No plans for climate change bill in NI

Despite the former Environment Minister Mark H Durkan setting out proposals for a climate change act specific to NI last December, his successor Michelle McIlveen has suggested that there is no need for action at present.

Answering a written MLA question, the current Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs said that legislation is already in place in the form of the UK Climate Change Act 2008. It includes targets to reduce emissions by 80% over 1990 levels by 2050 across the UK. The latest NI figures show a reduction of 17.4% from 1990 levels, meaning that NI is broadly on track to achieving a target set by the Stormont Executive of a 35% reduction by 2025.

“I will keep the need for local legislation and other measures which might help reduce our greenhouse gas emissions under review.

‘‘But our continued progress, without a NI Climate Change Act, shows our commitment to tackling one of the most serious global challenges that we face,” said the minister.

Agriculture is the biggest contributor to emissions in NI, with the most recent figures suggesting it accounted for 29%.

Grass-cutting to resume

As a result of securing additional funding from the Department of Finance, Infrastructure Minister Chris Hazzard has confirmed that grass verges on rural roads will be cut twice this year.

“Transport NI has been allocated £5m to enhance routine maintenance services in a number of areas. Not only will a second grass cut happen everywhere, but the majority of potholes will now be repaired and the renewal of road markings will be accelerated,” confirmed the minister in the Stormont Assembly chamber this week.

A5 construction from late 2017

Infrastructure Minister Chris Hazzard has said that he hopes construction of the A5 between New Buildings and Ballygawley will begin in late 2017. A public inquiry to be administered by the Planning Appeals Commission is due to begin this October and to report by May 2017.

If there is a satisfactory outcome to that inquiry, then construction can begin said the minister.

He also confirmed that the section between Ballygawley and Aughnacloy is “not being taken forward at this stage”.

Hazzard gets £10m to fix rural roads

Additional funding worth £10m has been allocated to the Department of Infrastructure, which will allow up to 1,000 small-scale resurfacing schemes on short lengths of rural roads across NI.

Announcing the additional funding this week, Infrastructure Minister Chris Hazzard said that the money will be used to fix those roads in most need of repair. “I have asked my officials to identify the sections in greatest need and to start work as soon as possible,” he told MLAs at Stormont. He acknowledged that the amount of funding available is limited. “I think that this is a good start. It is something that I hope we can build on, going forward,” he said. The minister also confirmed that the money is in addition to the £5m recently announced for grass-cutting and road maintenance.