AQW 28511/17-22 Written question to the Minister for Infrastructure
To ask the Minister for Infrastructure what legislation is being developed by her Department for introduction during the next mandate.
Asked by Andrew Muir MLA on 21 January 2022
- Answered
- Written
- Tabled
- 21 January 2022
- Answer due by
- 7 February 2022
- Answered
- 7 February 202217 days after tabling
- Department
- Department for Infrastructure
- Priority question
- No
Answer
As Minister for Infrastructure, I am responsible for a wide range of statutory functions where I feel that primary legislative change would be beneficial. However, given the constraints on Assembly time within the current mandate and the impact of the COVID pandemic on the processes required to facilitate these, I have been unable to progress these legislative changes to the point where they could be introduced in the current mandate. However, my officials do continue to work in key areas in relation to primary legislation.
I recently published a review of the implementation of the Planning Act (NI) 2011. Legislation will be required to deliver some of the review recommendations with amendments likely to be proposed to several of the associated pieces of legislation. Officials are also working to support commencement of the Reservoirs Act 2015 following the transfer of functions from DAERA.
There are also a number of areas where work is ongoing and the outcome may necessitate the amendment of primary legislation in the next mandate, including the consultation exercise on inconsiderate pavement parking. The consultation on a new road safety strategy may also identify other areas were legislative change is required.
On road traffic and vehicles, my Department is actively considering a range of policy adjustments. Many of these, if they were to be adopted in the next mandate, would entail legislative change. The issues under consideration include careless driving, graduated driver licensing and biennial testing. Final decisions on these will be made by an incoming Minister.
My officials currently are considering one piece of legislation (Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022) in relation to remote control parking which is likely to be introduced within the next mandate.
The further development and introduction of any legislation within the next mandate will of course depend on the priorities of an incoming Minister.