To ask the Minister for Infrastructure whether she will consider introducing the ability to log obstructed pavements online via NI Direct.

The obstruction categories currently available within the ‘Report-a-Fault’ system on the NI Direct website are designed to a cover a wide range of issues that can arise such as fallen vegetation or objects and unauthorised equipment or signs. I can confirm that each category description refers to an obstruction on either the road or footway. After selecting a relevant fault category, customers have the facility to add further details within the additional information text box, for example, to accurately describe the location of the obstruction. The system then sends a notification to the relevant DfI Roads area maintenance office, where the issue is investigated.

It should be noted that parking that causes an obstruction (on the road or footway) has not been decriminalised and responsibility for enforcement currently rests with the PSNI. Footway parking is enforced by Traffic Attendants only where there are parking restrictions in place, such as yellow lines or Clearways, as these apply to both the road and adjacent footway. Further information on parking enforcement can be found at the following link:

https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/parking-enforcement.