(AQW 4029/01)

The Minister for Regional Development (Mr P Robinson): Translink has advised that the upgrade of the East Antrim railway line will involve major construction works and some disruption to services is unavoidable. However, it will endeavour to do all in its power to ensure that the disruption is kept to a minimum. When the work commences Translink intends to use single line working from Monday to Friday using bus substitution as and when required. At weekends there will be total closure of the line with bus substitution for the cancelled train services.

(AQW 4034/01)

Mr P Robinson: Translink hopes to start the work to upgrade the line between Bleach Green Junction and Whitehead in the current financial year. However, only £2m of the total estimated cost of £18m is currently available. I have bid for the remaining £16m in this year’s Budget. The section between Belfast and Bleach Green has already been upgraded and the future of the section between Whitehead and Larne depends upon the Assembly’s future Budgetary decisions in relation to the Regional Transportation Strategy.

New rolling stock has been ordered to replace the existing Class 80 trains, but Translink has not yet decided how to deploy the new trains.

Improvements to the railway services on the line should increase passenger numbers with consequent reductions in traffic congestion. However, due to the uncertainties surrounding the timing of the infrastructure improvements and the deployment of the new rolling stock, it is not possible to provide an assessment of the extent of increased rail patronage and consequent reduced traffic congestion.

(AQW 4051/01)

Mr P Robinson: In April 2001 my predecessor, Gregory Campbell, announced changes to the metering policy, which exempted certain classes of metered customers, served by a supply pipe of 20 millimetres diameter or less, from standing changes. As a result, some 16,400 farmers, out of a total of 48,000 farmers who have a metered water supply, no longer pay any charges.

Water Service has just concluded a review of the current charging policy for the supply of water, and standing charges was one of the issues considered. I intend to consult the Regional Development Committee, the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee, and other interested parties before reaching any conclusions on the review’s recommendations.

(AQW 4079/01)

(a) The latest available annual average daily traffic flows in the year 2000 on the A26 between Glarryford and Coleraine were:

(b) My Department’s Roads Service has assessed these flows taking account of information available from the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions in Great Britain, which suggests that a single carriageway road should operate satisfactorily with flows of up to 18000 vehicles per day.

In this context the latest traffic figures support the case for the dualling of the A26 from Glarryford to the A44 (Ballycastle) junction to be one of the high priority schemes considered for inclusion in the Department’s 10 Year Forward Planning Schedule of major road schemes.

I would reiterate the importance my Department attaches to the A26 route, having designated it as a Key Transport Corridor within the Regional Strategic Framework. Apart from the dualling scheme referred to above, further improvements, primarily in the form of improved overtaking opportunities, will be considered for the remainder of the route in the coming years.

(AQW 4085/01)

Mr P Robinson: Untreated wastewater can be discharged from the sewerage infrastructure in a variety of ways. These include discharges from the normal operation of combined sewer overflows during periods of heavy rainfall, overflows to waterways arising from malfunctions at treatment works or pumping stations, small discharges arising from sewer blockages, and out of sewer flooding resulting from equipment failures, sewer collapses, or inadequate capacity to deal with the volume of rainfall.

Water Service does not have records of the number of incidents in each of these categories. The available information in respect of incidents in the Cookstown District Council area is as follows:

Water Service also has records of the number of customer complaints relating to blocked sewers and flooding over the past 3 years:

The flooding complaints include all those reported to Water Service irrespective of the cause, and will include multiple complaints about single incidents. The complaints may also include flooding caused by surface water or overflowing watercourses, which are not the responsibility of Water Service.

(AQW 4086/01)

Mr P Robinson: Untreated wastewater can be discharged from the sewerage infrastructure in a variety of ways. These include discharges from the normal operation of combined sewer overflows during periods of heavy rainfall, overflows to waterways arising from malfunctions at treatment works or pumping stations, small discharges arising from sewer blockages, and out of sewer flooding resulting from equipment failures, sewer collapses, or inadequate capacity to deal with the volume of rainfall.

Water Service does not have records of the number of incidents in each of these categories. The available information in respect of incidents in the Magherafelt District council area is as follows:

Water Service also has records of the number of customer complaints relating to blocked sewers and flooding over the past 3 years:

(AQW 4101/01)

Mr P Robinson: Information is not held in precisely the form requested. The numbers of civil servants in the Department for Regional Development who are known to live in (a) the constituency of West Tyrone and (b) the constituencies of Foyle and East Londonderry who work in one of the four Belfast constituencies as at January 2002 are 17 and 28 respectively.

(AQW 4136/01)

(a) Full details of ferry usage rates for the year 2001/ 2002 will not be available until late July 2002 following the processing of annual data from the ticket machines. However, on the basis of a comparison of income received, it is estimated, that the year’s usage figures will be approximately 150,000 cars and 160,000 passengers, excluding vehicle drivers and schoolchildren paid for by the local Education and Library Board. I have asked my Department’s Roads Service to write to you again when the precise details become available.

The final figures will not include the approximately 64,000 trips per annum made by schoolchildren on their way to and from school. As the Education and Library Board provide passes to the schoolchildren these trips are not included in the data obtained from the ticket machines and cannot therefore be confirmed from this data.

(b) On the same basis, initial indications are that there was an increase of approximately 4% in traffic using the Strangford Ferry for the first 3 months of 2002 following the introduction of the new ferry compared to the same period in 2001.

(c) The ferry is operated as a public service and Roads Service has no official annual usage targets.

(AQW 4160/01)

Mr P Robinson: Following the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother the instruction to fly the Union Flag was received from the Office of the First and Deputy First Minister. My Officials immediately relayed this instruction to all premises officers in my Department for action.

The Union Flag was flown at half mast from Thursday 4 April to Tuesday 9 April at the Headquarters of my Department, Clarence Court, a specified building in Part 1 of the Schedule of the Flags Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000. It was also flown at 27 other locations wholly or mainly occupied by the Department for Regional Development at which it was the practice to fly the flag on notified days in the period of 12 months ending 30 November 1999 as stipulated in the Flags Regulations (NI) 2000.

No discretion was exercised and the instruction to fly the flag was fully followed in accordance with the Regulations.

(AQW 4161/01)

Mr P Robinson: Following the death of HRH Princess Margaret the instruction to fly the Union Flag was received from the Office of the First and Deputy First Minister. My Officials immediately relayed this instruction to all premises officers in my Department for action.

The Union Flag was flown at half mast on Friday 15 February 2002 at the Headquarters of my Department, Clarence Court, a specified building in Part 1 of the Schedule of the Flags Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000 It was flown at 27 other locations wholly or mainly occupied by the Department for Regional Development at which it was the practice to fly the flag on notified days in the period of 12 months ending 30 November 1999 as stipulated in the Flags Regulations (NI) 2000.

No discretion was exercised and the instruction to fly the flag was fully followed in accordance with the Regulations.

(AQW 4260/01)

Mr P Robinson: The Department for Transport has lead responsibility in relation to European ports policy and they have had detailed discussions with representatives of the port authorities, shipping companies and other interested parties in relation to the proposed Directive.

Although a common position has been adopted by the European Council on the Directive, it has still to go to the European Parliament for a second reading which is not expected to happen until the Autumn. A full assessment of the Directive can only be undertaken then, but, as currently drafted it would have implications for the ports of Belfast, Larne and Warrenpoint in Northern Ireland.

In the event that the Directive is approved by the European Parliament, legislation will be required and, in this context, the Department will wish to engage in full consultation on the proposed method of implementation.

(AQW 4264/01)

(a) A full Inter–Agency investigation of the flooding on 21 June 2002 is underway. My senior officials are working closely with those in other Departments to establish the factors which contributed to the flooding, how the incident was managed, and the steps that can be taken to improve our response in the future. The views of the Inter-Agency Flood Liaison Group, set up in 1999, will also be important.

(b) Roads Service’s policy provides for the cleaning of road gullies in urban areas, on average, between once and twice per annum, depending on local circumstances and expected levels of debris in the silt trap. In the Monkstown estate, after the flooding which occurred in 1999/2000, this was increased to 4 times a year with the grilles to the inlets of culverts being cleaned once a month. Where problems have been recorded, or indeed reported, remedial works are prioritized and carried out as soon as possible. I am advised that DARD’s Rivers Agency also has a robust maintenance and enforcement regime for the protection of infrastructure within its responsibility.

(c) I am also advised that DOE Planning Service carries out consultations with Roads Service, Water Service and Rivers Agency during the preparation of all development plans, including the BMAP 2001 and the Carrickfergus Area Plan 2001. Water Service provides detailed advice on the availability of water and sewerage services and will draw attention to any difficulties envisaged in relation to the capacity of existing infrastructure to absorb new development and the timing of new or improved infrastructure. Similarly, Roads Service provides advice on the likely consequences of increased transportation on the local road network and well-established arrangements are in place for consultation with DARD’s Rivers Agency at all stages in the planning process regarding the drainage implications of development proposals, where appropriate.

Planning Service also consults these Services in relation to all applications for housing developments and a range of other development proposals. All new developments proposed in the Draft Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan will be the subject of consultation with both my Department and DARD, who will be asked to advise on their likely transportation and drainage impacts respectively. In addition proposals as they emerge will be discussed with Carrickfergus and Newtownabbey Borough Councils who will have an opportunity to comment on any proposed new zonings. The Draft Plan will be subject to a six week objection period and all objections will be considered at a Public Inquiry. This approach provides for full and open consideration of the likely impacts of any new proposals.

(AQW 4265/01)

Mr P Robinson: My Department has a well established and timely operational response mechanism for dealing with flooding incidents such as the flooding which occurred on 21 June 2002 following exceptionally heavy rainfall in the Newtownabbey and Carrickfergus areas.

In the autumn of 2001, full-page advertisements were placed in both the phone Book and Yellow Pages giving the relevant numbers for the public to ring in case of flooding. At the same time, an information leaflet was delivered to all residential and business addresses in the province.

My Department received no prior notification of the extreme weather which occurred along the north side of Belfast Lough on 21 June, but the normal out of hours emergency arrangements were in place. Response teams were on standby, and the customer contact numbers, referred to in the information leaflet, were open. Unfortunately lightning knocked out Roads Services emergency switchboard for 30 minutes from 9.00pm.

As soon as reports of the flooding were received from the North Belfast and Newtownabbey areas, Water Service and Roads Service put their emergency arrangements into operation. Within Water Service staffing levels were increased to handle the calls from customers and both departmental staff and contractors were deployed to the areas initially affected. Over 50 personnel were providing assistance on the ground within an hour and a half of the first reports of flooding. They continued to provide assistance in other affected areas, and were deployed in the Carrickfergus area before midnight. The clean-up work continued right through the weekend.

Roads Service Emergency Squads were in attendance in both the Newtownabbey and Carrickergus areas between 9pm on Friday 21 June 2002 and 10pm on Saturday 22 June to tackle the flooding problems and assist with the clear up operations. Over 500 sandbags were used to try and give a degree of protection to private property.

Local Roads and Water Service Engineers and staff from the Central Claims Unit attended a special Council Meeting on Monday 24 June 2002 at Carrick Council Offices about the flooding problems in Carrickfergus. At that meeting it was agreed that departmental staff would attend a specially convened "open day" on Thursday 27 June 2002 at Carrickfergus Council Offices. Here, the public were given the opportunity to question staff and pass on complaints relating to the recent flooding incident and to lodge complaints if they had not already done so.

(AQW 4267/01)

Mr P Robinson: An Inter Agency Flood Liaison Group was established in 1999 by Lord Dubs, the then Minister of Agriculture, following severe flooding in September of that year. The terms of reference of the group were to consider the adequacy of day to day arrangements for flood emergencies and recommend ways to enhance current procedures and in particular, inter-agency co-operation.

As an interim measure, in the autumn of 2001 full-page adverts were placed in both the Phone Book and Yellow Pages giving the relevant numbers to ring in the case of flooding. At the same time, an information leaflet was delivered to all residential and business addresses in the province. This provides emergency telephone numbers and useful advice in the event of flooding.

Strategic level consideration is being given to creating a single flood-line number to disseminate the calls to the three Agencies. There is still a considerable amount of work to be done in this area due to the complexities of the telephone system and the differing structures of the Agencies involved.

As part of its emergency arrangements, Water Service provides ex-directory telephone numbers which enables councillors to contact the Water Service directly. The telephone numbers are circulated to Local Authority Chief Executives for distribution to councillors. In addition, Roads Service telephone numbers are also available on request to Local Authority Chief Executives for distribution.

These contact arrangements will be reviewed as part of an inter-departmental review which is being performed in respect of the lessons emerging from this flooding incident.

(AQW 4268/01)

Mr P Robinson: In Autumn 1999 the former Minister, Lord Dubs, established a Group to improve the response of Government Agencies to flooding. The Inter-Agency Flood Liaison Group is made up of representatives of the 3 Agencies that have statutory duties associated with drainage infrastructure; Water Service, Roads Service and Rivers Agency. The Group was commissioned to review the adequacy of day-to-day arrangements, make recommendations to enhance current procedures and in particular, inter-agency co-operation.

The report by the Inter-Agency Flood Liaison Working Group, finalised in June 2001, addresses a number of issues including co-operation and communication, weather information and warnings, testing of emergency plans, liaison and other services, and the identification of specific ‘flash points’.

Many of the recommendations have been successfully implemented and others are being pursued vigorously. These include:

• strategic consideration of the creation of a single inter-agency flood-line number to disseminate calls to the three Agencies;

• a number of operational subgroups have been formed to foster better liaison between the Agencies and to develop as far as possible a seamless interface with the public;

• full-page joint adverts with contact details for each agency were published in the Telephone directory (September 2001) – under ‘Flooding’ – and in the Yellow Pages (November 2001) – under ‘Government Offices (page 809)’

• a joint flooding advice leaflet was issued to every household in Northern Ireland between November 2001 and January 2002. The flooding advice pamphlet provided contact numbers for each of the three agencies with advice on what to do if affected by flooding; and

• emergency contact numbers for the three agencies were published in a joint press advertisement (25 October and again on 12 November 2001) in the three main local newspapers; The Belfast Telegraph, The News Letter and the Irish News.

(AQW 4285/01)

Mr P Robinson: My Department’s Roads Service cuts grass on areas of land which it owns to prevent overgrowth onto carriageways and footway surfaces and the obstruction of sightlines and traffic signs. Grass cutting operations are carried out for road safety reasons and not for cosmetic or amenity purposes.

I commissioned a review of the Roads Service grass cutting policy following difficulties experienced in last year’s grass cutting operations. At its meeting on 26 June 2002, the Regional Development Committee confirmed that it was generally content with the findings of the review.

The main findings of the review were:

• a definitive policy of two cuts per year in rural areas and five cuts per year in urban areas (areas of verge required for sightlines could be cut more frequently if required);

• the first cut in rural areas to be completed by the end of June;

• a greater emphasis on resource mobilisation, through improved work planning and early award of contracts, to enable a prompt start as soon as growth develops; and

• the balance between road safety and environmental protection indicates that the area to be cut should remain one swathe width (1.2 metres) on straight lengths of verge with the complete area required for sightlines to be cut.

I should point out that grass cutting contracts for the 2002/2003 cutting cycle were already in place for 21 of the 24 Road Section areas before the review began. The findings of the review cannot therefore be fully implemented this year. I can advise, however, that where Roads Service operatives carry out grass cutting work, improved planning procedures have already been implemented and staff will, where possible, comply with the new policy even though it has come late in the year for implementation.

(AQW 4312/01)

Mr P Robinson: Water Service has been progressing, as expeditiously as possible, a programme of flood alleviation works across the Province.

As part of this programme Water Service proposes to replace the sewers in Woodburn Road and Prospect Gardens and upgrade two combined storm overflows. The scheme, which is estimated to cost some £400,000, will considerably reduce the risk of further flooding in this area of Carrickfergus.

Consultations with the various statutory bodies involved are at an advanced stage. It is hoped to commence the scheme towards the end of this month, and will take some 6 months to complete.

(AQW 4317/01)

Mr P Robinson: After lengthy negotiations to resolve objections received to the environmental and planning stages for this scheme, my Department’s Roads Service had anticipated that the ensuing Notice of Intention to Make a Vesting Order, published in May 2002, would be unopposed. In the event three objections have been received from the same parties who objected at the previous stages.

Roads Service officials are currently negotiating with the objectors and some progress has been made. It is, however, unlikely that the issues will be resolved quickly and a start date this year is now unlikely.

Ultimately, the start date for construction is dependent upon the satisfactory completion of the vesting process and the funding position at that time.

(AQW 4330/01)

Mr P Robinson: I should first explain that there is a distinction between the public use of the lands belonging to both organisations and accordingly each employ necessarily different maintenance regimes. My Department’s Roads Service cuts grass on areas of land which it owns to prevent:

• overgrowth onto carriageways and footway surfaces; and

• the obstruction of sightlines and traffic signs.

These grass cutting operations are carried out for road safety reasons and not for aesthetic or amenity purposes. A recent policy review concluded that roadside verges should be cut five times per year in urban areas and twice a year in rural areas.

However, the Housing Executive is responsible for some 3,500 acres of both urban and rural open space, predominantly in and around areas of public housing. As these open spaces provide vital social and recreational facilities for local communities, I understand the grass is cut some 18 to 21 times per year mainly for aesthetic or amenity purposes.

It would be difficult to co-ordinate a joint system of grass cutting with the Housing Executive in light of the above points. However, Roads Service does have a number of partnership arrangements with District Councils who, for aesthetic or amenity purposes, wish to have a higher standard of grass maintenance in certain urban areas than is provided by Roads Service. In these cases the Councils accept responsibility for the work within their respective boundary and are reimbursed by Roads Service for the cuts which would have been carried out under Roads Service Policy. If there are any specific areas of Roads Service land where the Housing Executive would want to carry out additional cuts of grass, Roads Service would be content to consider a joint approach based on the same arrangements as with the District Councils.

(AQW 4356/01)

Mr P Robinson: As part of the package of proposals drawn up by the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to improve community relations in North Belfast, additional funding was made available to my Department’s Roads Service which allowed it to spend some £22,000 in 2001/2002 on traffic calming measures in the area. It is too early to assess the effectiveness of this expenditure.

(AQW 4380/01)

Mr P Robinson: The Department has no plans to make available any funding to improve or restore orange arches in Northern Ireland, nor does it possess the powers to do so.

(AQW 4383/01)

Mr P Robinson: My Department has made no representations to HM Government, nor does it have any plans to introduce amending legislation to reduce the level of public liability insurance for Orange arches.

(AQW 4384/01)

Mr P Robinson: My Department’s Roads Service operates four ‘Pay and Display’ car parks in Carrickfergus. During the 2001/2002 financial year, the total revenue collected from the car parks, including that derived from Excess and Alternative Charges, amounted to £129, 347. The expenditure incurred in respect of these car parks amounted to £107,803, not including notional charges such as depreciation etc.

During 2001/2002, Roads Service issued 588 Excess and Alternative Charge Notices to vehicles parked within these car parks that did not display valid parking tickets. This was a relatively small proportion (0.2%) of the total number of valid tickets purchased (316,000).

(AQW 4418/01)

Mr P Robinson: Under the Northern Ireland Concessionary Fares Scheme all persons who are registered blind can avail of free travel on all public transport in Northern Ireland. I am seeking additional resources from the Assembly’s Budget to extend the Concessionary Fares Scheme to more categories of people with disabilities as from 1 April 2003. I wish to be able to provide half fare travel to all the categories of disabled people, including partially sighted people, who are entitled to this benefit in Great Britain under the Transport Act 2000.

(AQW 4442/01)

Mr P Robinson: The underspend of £15.1 million, which represents just under 7% of my total capital budget for 2001/02, is largely the result of an accounting technicality. Although my Department paid grant of £13 million to Northern Ireland Railways, which the Company used during 2001/02 to make the initial payment for new rolling stock, this expenditure will not be scored against the capital budget until the year in which the assets are delivered and placed in service.

The remaining underspend relates to slippage on a number of major roads schemes where there was slower than expected progress through the various stages of the statutory procedures and tendering process e.g. the Limavady and Strabane Bypass projects. All capital underspend will be re-allocated to the Department in 2002/03 under the End Year Flexibility scheme.

(AQW 4486/01)

Mr P Robinson: The latest available annual average daily traffic flows taken along this A45/B520 route, which included heavy goods vehicles, were taken in 1999 on the B520 at Loughry. The count recorded some 4,250 vehicles per day with some 8% heavy goods vehicles. This compares with a typical 7.73% of heavy goods vehicles on Northern Ireland roads.

The proposed Dungannon Eastern Distributor Road is included in the Revision to the Draft Dungannon and South Tyrone Area Plan 2010 which was published for consultation on 15 May 2002. It is designed to improve the A29, which is a Link Corridor in the Regional Strategic Transport Network, and to relieve traffic flows on the more heavily trafficked roads in Dungannon.

Due to the remoteness of the A45/B520 route from Dungannon town centre it is unlikely that it would provide any significant relief to traffic flows in the town. In the circumstances my Department’s Roads Service has no current plans to upgrade this particular route.

I understand the Department of the Environment’s Planning Service anticipate holding a Public Inquiry early next year to consider any objections to the Draft Area Plan, including any relating to the proposed Eastern Distributor Road.

(AQW 4515/01)

Mr P Robinson: In the preparation of the Regional Transportation Strategy, the Department recognised the importance of the routes within the region that form part of the Trans European Network . These TENS routes form part of the Regional Strategic Transportation Network and rely on privately owned and managed shipping services to provide the necessary cross channel linkages. The Regional Transportation Strategy consultation process included some Scottish authorities.

The next stages of the Regional Transportation Strategy will be the production of transport plans. These will include a Regional Strategic Transportation Network Plan, to be completed by the end of 2003.

In developing the RSTN Plan, my officials will liaise on an ongoing basis with counterparts in the Scottish Parliament on the strategic transportation issues of mutual relevance. In doing so, the Department will also have regard to the European Commission’s White Paper of September 2001 on Transport – ‘European Transport Policy for 2010: Time to Decide’.

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