4.

asked the Office of the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister what discussions have taken place with the Ministry of Defence regarding the removal of contaminated materials from the Maze site.

(AQO 35/02)

We understand that diesel contamination was found at the Ministry of Defence site at Long Kesh, adjacent to Maze Prison. Remedial work has now been completed, and levels are below those prescribed. A six-month monitoring has recently begun to ensure that the levels remain within the required limits.

The Northern Ireland Office is not aware of any contamination on the Maze prison site.

I thank the Deputy First Minister for his response. Will he further ascertain whether other contamination has taken place? I have heard allegations that toxic materials were disposed of at the Maze site during the 1970s. I have also been informed that asbestos may have been dumped there. It would be difficult to develop the site unless some form of decontamination took place. I ask that it be fully investigated to ascertain whether there are any materials that might be dangerous to the public if the site were developed.

I am not aware of the contamination that the Member has referred to or has heard allegations of, but since he has brought the matter to the OFMDFM's attention, it will be pursued to enable us to be fully aware of what material is on the site and what the condition of the site is.

The Deputy First Minister appreciates that one of Belfast's great natural assets is its hills - Castlereagh, Cavehill, Black Mountain and Divis Mountain. Mindful that the Black Mountain has been ravaged by quarrying - more for private profit than to meet public need - has the Deputy First Minister raised the issue of the Ministry of Defence's disposal of land at Divis Mountain? What steps can be taken to ensure that public access to that land continues and develops?

If the Minister can see a connection with the question he is a better man than I am - but then he is a better man than I am.

The connection, I assume, is the disposal of Ministry of Defence land. The Office of the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister is aware of the community's strong interest in the future use of the land at Divis Mountain, and it knows that there have been discussions involving the Ministry of Defence, the National Trust and the Heritage Lottery Fund. We support the objective of making land at Divis Mountain accessible in the future. The Department of the Environment has been keeping in touch with those issues. The land was not included in the reinvestment and reform initiative on the basis that the Ministry of Defence believed that the future of the land had been settled through negotiations with the National Trust.

TOP

5.

asked the Office of the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister to make a statement on its current and proposed policy regarding the funding of women's groups.

(AQO 22/02)

Women's groups are an integral part of the community and voluntary sector. A recent position paper on the funding of women's organisations concluded that there was a need to identify an interim measure to support the work of women's organisations. An interdepartmental working group, jointly chaired by the Office of the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister and the Department for Social Development, commissioned and considered research by the women's support network on potential and actual job and service losses, and it also explored options to secure funding for this measure.

The working group concluded that the most effective way forward was to make an Executive programme fund bid for a share of the £6 million announced in July by the Executive. The purpose of the bid is to maintain important voluntary community sector services that are facing short-term financial difficulties. The Office of the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister and the Department for Social Development have worked together on behalf of the working group to produce a cross-departmental bid to sustain many services, including those delivered by women's organisations. That bid is supported by several other Departments.

On behalf of the Women's Coalition, I extend my condolences to the Deputy First Minister on the death of his mother.

I am slightly reassured by the First Minister's answer, but nonetheless I am concerned about the delay and the length of time it has taken. Will the First Minister confirm how many meetings have taken place about this urgent issue? Last week, Members may have received, as I did, faxes from a women's centre explaining that it had received a large capital grant to build a brand new building, which opened recently, only to discover last Friday that it was closing its doors. An urgent meeting of the management had been called to tell everyone that they were shutting up shop. Windsor Women's Centre in the Village area, the Shankill women's centre and many others are having the same crisis. We can no longer wait for decisions that take such a long time. When will the money be delivered at ground level? All of the centres could be faced with closure.

The bid to the Executive programme funds for a share of the £6 million will come before the Executive later this month, so something may develop from that. I understand the general point that the Member makes because of the reduction in the amount -

I must interrupt the First Minister because the time for questions to the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister is up. Perhaps the First Minister will give the balance of his answer to the Member in writing.

TOP

I wish to inform the House that question 17, standing in the name of Mrs Annie Courtney, has been withdrawn and will receive a written answer.

TOP

1.

asked the Minister for Regional Development what discussions he has had with PSNI regarding the incidence of car theft from on-street car parking in Belfast.

(AQO 19/02)

Car theft from on-street car parking is a law and order issue and, as such, my Department has not been advised or approached by the Police Service. It may be of little interest to the Member, but a record is kept of the incidences of car theft from off-street car parks in the eastern division. Those records show that three cars have been stolen in the past six months.

I have been informed by other sources that many cars stolen in the Belfast city area are from unattended on-street car parking areas and are principally left by commuters during office hours. What is the Minister doing, or what does he intend to do, to promote public transport and/or move towards residents car parking schemes to reduce the number of cars parked on-street, which are particularly vulnerable to theft?

As I said, I have no ministerial responsibility in that area. However, the hon Member will be interested to know that I voted against the organisational changes in the Police Service that have left it with a shortfall in finance, manpower and organisation.

Dr Birnie touched on the subject of my supplementary question. What plans does the Minister have to introduce residents parking schemes in Northern Ireland?

The Department for Regional Development has the statutory power under the Road Traffic Regulation (Northern Ireland) Order 1997 to introduce residents parking schemes. While the Department has identified some pilot residents parking schemes to test the necessary administrative enforcement procedures, the Assembly will be aware and will appreciate that those schemes will benefit local residents only if they are effectively enforced. In Northern Ireland, unlike the rest of the UK, that is solely a matter for the police or, in some cases, traffic wardens.

Regrettably, during discussions on the issue, the police have stated that they would be unable to undertake the necessary enforcement work in relation to such schemes. It, therefore, seems unlikely that the Roads Service will be able to progress the matter in the short term, and enforcement of residents parking schemes may have to await primary legislation for the decriminalisation of parking enforcement.

TOP

2.

asked the Minister for Regional Development to detail any forward plans for capital development of the sewerage infrastructure in the Lagan Valley constituency for each of the next four years.

(AQO 36/02)

Over the next four years, the Water Service proposes to invest £8 million on upgrading the sewerage infrastructure in the Lagan Valley constituency. That comprises £1·7 million in 2002-03, £3 million in 2003-04, £1·7 million in 2004-05 and a further £1·6 million in 2005-06. The upgrading work includes the construction of 10 new wastewater treatment works at locations including Aghalee, Dromore, Glenavy and Annahilt. In the longer term, the Water Service proposes to refurbish sewerage networks across the constituency at a cost of £12 million. In view of available funding and other priorities, it is likely to be 2007 before the work can commence.

The basis for my question was the announcement by the Minister of the Environment of a moratorium on development that has not received outline permission. Will the Minister for Regional Development assure us that the matter will be addressed, and that urgently needed development will not be hindered as a result of the Minister of the Environment's statement on the Environment and Heritage Service?

The Minister of the Environment and I met to discuss issues relating to the Environment and Heritage Service, the Water Service and the assessed hot-spot areas. I plan to meet Mr Nesbitt again this Wednesday further to our having jointly tasked our officials to examine the issues involved and to propose appropriate action.

Northern Ireland's infrastructure has been seriously underfunded for many years, and there is a significant backlog in the provision of water and sewerage services. Consequently, we must spend about £3 billion in the next 20 years. That means that an additional £50 million a year beyond the present expenditure estimates will be required. Therefore, it will take a long time and considerable expenditure to solve all the problems.

Programmes have already been scheduled to deal with the hot spots in the Member's constituency of Lagan Valley. Given that there is a programme to deal with issues of concern, it is not unreasonable for the planners to allow development to proceed.

I welcome the Minister's answer. Is he satisfied that the problem that I raised about sewerage provision in the Glenmore area of Hilden has been resolved?

As I recall, that was an odour problem. The Water Service commissioned a survey, the publication of which is imminent. As soon as the results become available, I will let Mr Davis know the outcome and what action my Department will take.

I thank the Minister for his replies, particularly those concerning forward plans and the areas marked for investment. Did the Minister mention the Fort Road area of the Lagan Valley constituency, where pipes leak constantly and there is no main sewer? If that area is not on the list, will the Minister examine the matter and reply in writing, if necessary?

I am not familiar with the geography of that area, and to tell me that there are leaking pipes there does not help to define the case, because there are so many leaking pipes in Northern Ireland. I will ask my Department for the details of that site, and I will contact Mr Close about it.

TOP

3.

asked the Minister for Regional Development when he will bring forward proposals to the Executive and the Assembly to address the problems in the water and sewerage systems.

(AQO 47/02)

The Water Service must invest an additional £500 million over the next 10 years to comply with European Directives on water quality, to respond to increasing demand and to upgrade ageing infrastructure.

I inherited a legacy of more than 30 years of underinvestment in water and sewerage services when I took up the regional development portfolio in November 1999. Since then, I have vigorously pursued all possible options to address that historic funding shortfall and to ensure the delivery of efficient and effective water and sewerage services to customers.

The Water Service's total capital investment in the next 20 years amounts to approximately £3 billion. Currently, the Water Service is finalising a comprehensive review of the condition and investment requirements of all surface and underground water and sewerage infrastructure. That exercise takes account of the increasingly stringent European standards for water quality and wastewater treatment that the Water Service must meet.

The data are being used to prepare an asset management plan (NIAMP 2), which will define the level of capital investment required for the next 20 years, together with the associated operational requirements for the next 10 years and how and where that investment should be targeted. NIAMP 2 will be finalised towards the end of 2002. I will present the plan to the Assembly next year, when I will also present my options for funding the strategy. Those options will comprise a combination of continued public expenditure funding, the use of public-private partnerships, alternative funding proposals such as developer contributions and the investment potential offered under the reinvestment and reform initiative's new borrowing powers. I await with interest the outcome of the consultation on the review of rating policy and its consideration of the future funding options for the Water Service.

I thank the Minister for his comprehensive answer. Considering Mr Poots's question, there are many more questions that I would have liked to ask. How dependable is the time frame, and how quickly does the Minister hope to bring it before the Assembly?

We are on schedule to meet the timetable that has been set out. The time restrictions that are of greatest concern are those that have been set down by the European Union. Under European regulations, Northern Ireland is in default of a number of Directives, and the majority of infraction proceedings against the United Kingdom from Europe relate to Northern Ireland. The outcome could be a massive imposition on the funding of the Northern Ireland block. It is reckoned that the United Kingdom could face fines amounting to tens of millions of pounds if the infractions are not dealt with.

I want the Water Service to spend its money on improving the quality of its network, not on paying fines, because I suspect that the Treasury would not bear the cost of any infraction proceedings and would be likely to pass it off by way of a penalty on the Northern Ireland block. Therefore, at the very time when we needed more money to deal with the causes of infractions, we would have to spend money on paying fines. We have already passed some of the deadlines without being able to remedy the causes.

The Minister has touched on some of the difficulties leading to hold-ups in planning permission. Is the Water Service responsible for the refusals?

Ultimately, any development decision is a planning issue, and the decision will have to be taken by the Planning Service. In doing so, it will have to take into account the views of the agencies it consults with. Among those agencies are the Water Service and the Environment and Heritage Service. To the best of my knowledge, in the Member's constituency of Strangford, the Water Service is not objecting to any development on the basis of incapacity in its sewerage network. However, there are serious issues. The House supports the Environment and Heritage Service, as we do not want substandard wastewater treatment, and we do not want effluent on our beaches and around the coast.

Clearly, it is a concern that must be dealt with. The pragmatic approach has to be whether the Water Service has proposals that will, in time, deal with the problem. If there is under-capacity in a wastewater treatment works, and there is a proposal to deal with that under-capacity, the sensible approach would be to allow development to take place providing it does not cause a great problem before improvement is made.

If that sensible approach is taken it will resolve the problem of an overwhelming number of hot spots. It is to be hoped that later this week the Minister of the Environment and I will be able to resolve some of the problems on the basis of a useful meeting that we have already had and the work that has been carried out with officials since then.

The Minister told the House that responsibility for the Water Service lies with him, and him alone. Would he, therefore, explain why he chose not to visit the lower Ormeau Road at the time of severe flooding - when people were traumatised after sewage came into their homes for the third time? Perhaps he would have seen for himself the urgency of fitting pumps that work. In that case there were modern pumps, but they completely failed. Would he assure the community of River Terrace that he will come out and talk to them?

Members are aware that many properties across the Province were flooded. If the Minister were expected to call at every house that is flooded, he would not have the opportunity to remedy the situation. My Colleague, during his time in office, visited the Ormeau Road area. There is no reason to believe that, if time were available, I would not do the same.

As a constituency Member I have seen flooding in many circumstances. I understand the serious concerns that people have when flooding occurs and the upheaval that it causes. I want to resolve those problems. My time is best used doing that, rather than meeting people for public relations purposes. However, I am happy to meet people if the Member wants to bring them to me, or wants to make an arrangement with me. I have no aversion to visiting the Ormeau Road. I am happy to speak to people and to hear their concerns.

TOP

4.

asked the Minister for Regional Development to make a statement on the development of light rail services in the Greater Belfast area.

(AQO 48/02)

The regional transportation strategy for Northern Ireland 2002-12 includes £100 million for the commencement of a rapid transit network for Belfast. The development of that network will be taken forward against the backdrop of the Belfast metropolitan transport plan, which is currently being prepared. I regard that initiative as extremely important. Over the next few weeks I will set up a dedicated project team to begin detailed preparatory work. Part of that work will examine a range of possible options for such a network, including light rail.

I welcome the Minister's answer. Although I appreciate that contracts have been signed for new train sets, I must point out to the Minister that extended and improved park-and-ride facilities on the Larne line have been successful. Bearing that in mind, would he agree that the real potential for improving public transport lies with the development of a light rail system in the Greater Belfast area?

With regard to the Greater Belfast area, I believe that the prospects of getting people out of their cars would be vastly improved it there were a rapid transport system. The Member keeps talking about light rail. However, there are several options - guided buses; a tram system of hybrid vehicles that can go on rails and on the road at certain points, and light rail. I am not making up my mind on the options at this time. However, a dedicated project team will be set up to consider which route is appropriate for a pilot scheme - many people have assumed it will be the E-way - to establish the best vehicle for the scheme and, perhaps, leave open the option of upgrading if that seems to be appropriate.

It would clearly be in the interests of the overall project if, along the route of such a rapid transit scheme, there were appropriate park-and-ride facilities. That kind of modern and speedy transport system would be more likely to catch the imagination of people in the Greater Belfast area and, therefore, more likely to get them out of their cars and onto public transport. However, that only deals with the Greater Belfast area, and only part of it at that. We are considering other proposals, such as quality bus corridors, which would go along other routes to assist in encouraging public transport use by providing a more reliable and faster way into the city centre. Therefore, one should not rule out the prospect of more quality bus corridors. The regional transportation strategy draws attention to their potential.

Will the Minister undertake to ensure that proper infrastructural links are in place to facilitate the use of any projected Belfast light railway by those living in the Greater Belfast travel-to-work area? I refer specifically to those who live in east Antrim, who must currently struggle with an inadequate road system, epitomised by the A2 between Newtownabbey and Carrickfergus, and antiquated rail provision, and where the opportunity for a quality bus service does not currently exist.

The regional transportation strategy, even though it only goes up to 2012, showed that in the longer term, within the 25 years of the regional development strategy, there was the potential, not simply to have a rapid transit route, but to have a rapid transit network. One of the illustrative drawings in the regional transportation strategy showed an east-west route and a north-south route. If successful, there might even be an orbital route as well.

If there were east-west and north-south routes, having routes from the outlying areas to feed in to those networks would make good sense and ensure that the full potential was reached. The more customers for those kinds of routes, the better the service can be. The better the service, the more likely customers are to use it.

Ards Borough Council and the Strangford constituency are interested in the light rail service. Is the Minister prepared to consider extending any rapid transit system to Comber and Newtownards?

It is intended to run a pilot rapid transit system under the regional transportation strategy, from which we will learn much about the potential for that form of transport, whether it is tram or light rail, to attract the normal road user onto public transport. The more successful the pilot scheme, the greater the opportunity for extending it will be.

The Member's question is along the same lines as that of the Member for East Antrim, Mr Ken Robinson. Even if the rapid transit corridor were not to be extended into Comber and Newtownards, those areas would be ideal for bringing vehicles onto it, if the corridor from Dundonald into Belfast was being used. Whether it would be buses or another form of public transport, it would bring those areas into the rapid transit network, and they would gain from the faster journey times into Belfast from that point.

TOP

5.

asked the Minister for Regional Development to detail the number of unadopted roads rejected by the Department in each of the last five years on the grounds that they had not been brought up to the required standard.

(AQO 65/02)

I take it that the Member's question relates to long-standing unadopted roads rather than to roads in new housing developments. There are many such private roads and laneways across Northern Ireland that have not been adopted into the public road network. As they are private roads, the Roads Service does not have exact details, but it is estimated that there are about 62 km throughout Northern Ireland.

Over the years, there have been many requests for private roads to be adopted, although details are not tabulated. Unfortunately, very few of them are fit for adoption. To bring all private roads in Northern Ireland up to the necessary standard for adoption would cost approximately £14 million, excluding the cost of land, service alterations and accommodation works, which would substantially increase the sum.

The infrastructure of long-standing roads has been neglected for many years in several district council areas. Does the Minister have any plans to bring some of those roads into the circle and improve their infrastructure for the benefit of residents?

I am reluctant to get a reputation for girning about my inheritance in the Department for Regional Development. However, in addition to the problems with the Water Service, there were also problems with roads and transportation. The regional transportation strategy recognised that considerable work was necessary, which would involve a considerable sum of money. In order to meet the priorities that had been set out for the next 10 years, it was necessary to increase the public expenditure extrapolated over the 10-year period by about £1·3 billion or £1·4 billion. The Assembly would probably recognise that it is better to deal with those priorities, which were unanimously agreed on, before taking on more responsibilities. There would be a local advantage in having some of the unadopted roads adopted. To do so requires them to be brought up to standard. I understand that Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council in the Member's constituency had considered the possibility of using ratepayers' funds to make some impact in that area, although I suspect that the Minister of the Environment would not greatly encourage that. In the meantime, I can give no solace about unadopted roads. Our priority must be the programme that the Assembly agreed under the regional transportation strategy.

Does the Minister acknowledge that some developers continue to be slow about bringing roads and sewerage systems up to departmental standards and that the Department needs to use increased vigour to force those developers to bring roads, footpaths and sewers up to standard so that the residents do not have to endure inferior utilities? Does he agree that the Department must also ensure that the bonds that are put up by developers are drawn down more readily so that the public are not inconvenienced?

That is a fair point. When completion of roads to adoption standard by developers does not occur within a reasonable period from the date of the occupation of houses, the Private Streets (Northern Ireland) Order 1980, as amended, enables the Roads Service to complete the necessary work at the expense of developers. Such action is normally initiated only after efforts to persuade the developers to meet their obligations have proved unsuccessful, and each case is considered on its merits. My Department has no plan to introduce any further legislation, because it believes that the current legislation is appropriate. If developers have not carried out their responsibilities, the Department usually takes action approximately one year after the date of occupation. If the Member wishes, the Department can examine the appropriateness of that time period and consider whether it can be brought forward.

TOP

6.

asked the Minister for Regional Development what progress has been made in relaying the Belfast to Bangor railway line.

(AQO 20/02)

Translink has advised me that the relay work between Bangor and Belfast is complete and that full, scheduled services are now in operation.

The Minister kindly wrote to me in August setting out details of the project management chaos and the additional costs associated with the relaying of the Bangor to Belfast line, which he has already spoken about in the House. What lessons have been learned from that? What are the implications for future line relaying, particularly the Whitehead line, and is such work likely to incur additional costs?

Northern Ireland Railways outsourced the project management on that stretch of the line. Last November, it dispensed with the services of the project management team and took over the work itself. It has meant a considerable delay in the initial timescale, and the Member is right to draw attention to the indication that project costs will have been exceeded. I do not yet have a final figure for the cost of the work; it was originally in the region of £9·5 million. It was then determined, however, that a more enhanced scheme should be adopted, and that was estimated at £14·7 million.

The estimates are now rumoured to be considerably in excess of that figure. However, Northern Ireland Railways is considering the possibility of legal action arising from contractual issues, which, if successful, will significantly reduce the amount of the excess.

Although I welcome the laying of new track throughout the Northern Ireland network and not only on the Bangor-Belfast line, can the Minister tell us when we shall have new trains?

Perhaps the Minister would be brief.

We shall take possession of the first train in December 2003. That train will be used to commission further trains, and others will follow fairly shortly. I cannot say which line the first train will run on: that is an operational decision.

Unfortunately, time is up. I am sure that the Minister will give Mr Hutchinson a written answer.

TOP

1.

asked the Minister of the Environment to detail the number of planning applications for mobile telecommunications masts that were (a) submitted; (b) refused; (c) granted; and (d) withdrawn (i) in the six months prior to the introduction of new departmental guidelines, Planning Policy Statement 10 (PPS 10); and (ii) since the introduction of the new guidelines.

(AQO 67/02)

The Minister of the Environment (Mr Nesbitt):A total of 271 full planning and prior approval applications was received in respect of telecommunication development in the six months prior to the introduction of the new guidelines, under Planning Policy Statement 10, from 11 April 2002. Of those, 37 were refused, 183 were granted and 51 were withdrawn. A total of 185 full planning and prior approval applications has been received since the introduction of the new guidelines. Of these, 18 were refused, 127 were granted and 20 were withdrawn. The remaining 20 applications remain under consideration.

The Planning (General Development) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2002 came into operation on 21 June 2002. That legislation removes existing permitted development rights from telecommunications code system operators and requires full planning permission for new telecommunications development, including masts.

I thank the Minister for his full reply. Given the public's perception of the health implications of masts, as well as their unsightliness, will the guidelines curtail their installation throughout the North?

My aim is for sustainable development; namely, that Northern Ireland will have a modern telecommunication industry, which industry needs, and that we will protect the environment. With regard to perceptions about the effects of telecommunications masts on health, I remind Mr Kelly that it is his Minister, Minister de Brún, who gives me advice on that aspect. I act on that advice. I am not responsible for health matters, nor have I knowledge of them. I take guidance from others.

Will the Minister explain what monitoring of emissions from mobile masts has been undertaken? What are the results?

The Stewart Report, published two years ago, advised that an independent, random audit should be carried out, especially on those masts situated in sensitive areas such as school premises. Last year, masts in the grounds of 100 schools were randomly tested, and the emissions recorded were many thousands of times below the levels recommended by health authorities. This year, tests are also being conducted on masts in the grounds of hospitals. I advise Members who want more information to visit www.radio.gov.uk.

The Minister will agree that many people's concerns about telecommunications masts have not decreased. Has the new legislation introduced by the Minister addressed those concerns?

Residents are mainly concerned with their health - one current application has generated 200 objections, all of which are based on possible health risks. Mr Shannon will recall that when he last spoke on the subject, his mobile phone rang in the Chamber. He will also know that a Colleague of his, Mr Wells, has told the Assembly that he owned a mobile phone and had used it to rescue someone when walking in the Mournes. We live in a society where mobile phones exist, and I must deal with residents' concerns in a pragmatic and balanced manner.

TOP

2.

asked the Minister of the Environment to outline (a) his position regarding the moratorium on planning approvals due to pressures on the sewerage infrastructure and (b) the specific areas affected in Northern Ireland.

(AQO 121/02)

TOP

3.

asked the Minister of the Environment to detail, by district council area, the number of planning applications affected by the moratorium resulting from objections regarding the discharge of wastewater that does not meet EC standards for water quality; and to make a statement.

(AQO 66/02)

There is no moratorium on planning approvals in Northern Ireland. The Department has a statutory duty to promote the conservation and cleanliness of water resources. It must also take account of the requirements of EU Directives that safeguard water quality.

In recent months, the Environment and Heritage Service (EHS) has highlighted concerns over the quality of discharges and risk of water pollution from sewage treatment plants and sewerage networks at several locations in Northern Ireland. This has raised complex legal, environmental and operational issues. While urgent discussions are held between my Department and the Department for Regional Development, which is responsible for wastewater treatment, decisions on planning applications in the affected areas are on hold as a precautionary measure.

Planning Service and EHS are consulting on 588 planning applications in Northern Ireland, a breakdown of which by Planning Service division is: Downpatrick 257; Ballymena 166; Omagh 95; Belfast 52; Londonderry 9; Enniskillen 4; Coleraine 3; and Craigavon 2. I will write to Ms Morrice when a breakdown by district council area is available. That information will also be placed in the Assembly Library. Planning applications that do not require connection to the sewerage network, such as extensions to houses or garages, continue to be processed to conclusion by the Planning Service.

I am acutely aware of the concerns that the development industry and public representatives have about this precautionary step. I announced recently that the Planning Service would now process to decision stage those development proposals that have received outline planning approval but are being held back as a precaution. I met the Minister for Regional Development, and we tasked our officials to formulate recommendations to resolve the difficulties by mid-September. Those recommendations will specify locations where the sewage pollution problems dictate that particular attention must be paid to water quality issues when planning decisions are being made.

I am determined to achieve an early, balanced and pragmatic resolution that will meet Northern Ireland's development needs while simultaneously protecting the environment, and I plan to make an early statement to the Assembly to that effect.

TOP

<< Prev / Next >>