William Hay (Speaker)

I have received notice from the Minister for Regional Development that he wishes to make a statement on the outcome of the examination of winter services around rural schools.

Conor Murphy (Sinn Féin)

Following completion of the examination that I requested of the operational response by Roads Service in areas around rural schools that were affected by adverse weather conditions last winter, I wish to make a statement.

The purpose of my statement is to present the findings of the examination and to outline the improvements that I will make to Roads Service’s winter policy as a result of those findings. I will first give a brief overview of the background leading up to the examination, the weather conditions experienced last winter and details of the difficulties faced by some rural schools. Secondly, I will outline the options that were considered and the changes that I have asked Roads Service to implement in time for this winter.

After severe wintry conditions were experienced across the North at the start of December 2008, the Regional Development Committee requested a review of Roads Service’s winter service policy and criteria. The Committee expressed concern that schoolchildren in rural areas had to travel on icy roads to schools. Indeed, some schools had to close for a short time during that period.

Although I declined to initiate a full review of Roads Service’s winter service policy and criteria, I asked Roads Service to examine the operational response to areas around schools and to report its findings to me. I did not request a full review because I believe that Roads Service’s current policy of targeting limited resources on roads with relatively high traffic volumes where salt is most effective and benefits most road users is sound, particularly in the current economic climate.

The examination that I ordered was carried out by Roads Service’s winter service working group, every member of which has substantial experience in the planning and delivery of winter services. Each of the group’s divisional representatives serves as a winter service controller.

The main characteristic of the weather that caused the problems at the start of December 2008 was the occurrence of late-morning rain showers on a consecutive number of very cold days during which there was often no thaw. That resulted in widespread ice on the entire network, including major elements of the treated network. Most areas were affected for approximately a week, but it was recognised that the freeze varied from place to place and that the overlapping period across the North stretched from 1 December to 19 December 2008.

The likely return frequency of that sort of weather is difficult to determine, but is considered to be approx­imately once in 12 years. The same frequency would also apply to the extent to which the winter service experienced problems with the amount of salt needed and the number of treatments applied during the 2008-09 season. For example, in 2008-09, 82,500 tons of salt was used to treat the network; almost 60% more than in previous years. Overall, the operation cost £6·8 million; some £2·6 million more than in previous years.

The weather pattern resulted in periods of up to five consecutive days with prolonged ice problems, which had a greater than usual impact on the untreated network. It is recognised that some rural schools faced significant difficulties because of their locations off the salted network. The examination found that during the period of severe wintry weather, just over 90% of the 250 rural schools stayed open. Despite having received between one and five secondary treatments, 23 schools closed for between a half-day and three days. Almost 20% of rural schools — a total of 46 — had absenteeism levels of more than 20% on occasions during that period.

Of the 23 schools that had closures in the December study period, 10 did not have any other closures during the later periods of, primarily, snow problems in January and early February 2009. However, 21 other schools were affected by those later incidents. Notwithstanding all that information, most rural schools that were surveyed had grit piles or salt boxes along their frontages and along connecting roads to the salted network. Unscheduled secondary treatment was also carried out at 47 of the 162 schools that were surveyed.

The review group looked at a number of opportunities for improvement and narrowed those down to four options, which I was asked to consider. Option 1 was for priority secondary salting for the 23 schools most affected by the weather conditions in December 2008. It involved preparing lists of all the problem school sites for each section office area and, when implementing any secondary salting actions for ice conditions, ensuring that a connecting route to each school from the main salted network is given as high a priority as possible. That option would target rural schools that had to close due to ice conditions last December.

Option 2 was for enhanced communication and priority secondary salting for the 44 schools most affected by weather conditions throughout the winter of 2008-09. That involved preparing lists of schools with particular difficulties for each section area and providing their management with Roads Service contact names and telephone numbers to improve communication and to ensure that problem areas are identified at the earliest possible opportunity. Option 2 targeted rural schools that had to close due to ice or snow problems last winter.

Option 3 was for additional salt boxes and salt/grit piles for all rural schools. It involved amending the criteria and scoring mechanism in the winter service policy for the consideration of placing salt boxes and grit piles to ensure that grit piles are provided at the nearest connecting route to all rural schools and that a salt box is provided adjacent to each school entrance.

Option 4 was for formalised secondary salting for 23 schools. It involved formalising secondary salting routes to link affected rural schools to the salted network and would be included in winter service plans as an action to be initiated when frost or ice is expected in a relevant area.

Having considered the options, I have decided that option 2 presents the most cost-effective way to deal with the problem. It involves enhanced communications and priority secondary salting for the 44 schools most affected by weather conditions throughout the winter of 2008-09. The approach is likely to have a wider positive impact on affected schools. It should lead to more frequent reports and, thereby, to more secondary actions to rural schools that closed due to either the December 2008 ice problems or the later snow problems in January and February 2009.

I also propose to enhance that option, so that if Roads Service staff become aware of ice or snow in areas that are adjacent to the targeted schools, they should act immediately and not wait to be contacted by the schools. I appreciate that, over time, the list of sites that benefit from this action will change to include more schools and to deal with the random way that adverse weather can affect different schools at different times.

I also propose to implement a slight variation of option 3, which was to amend the criteria for the provision of grit/salt piles and salt bins, so that, if requested, they can be provided to affected schools. Implementing those additional measures will help schools to avoid closures and high absentee levels during future adverse weather conditions in a cost-effective manner. I am now pleased to take Members’ questions. Go raibh míle maith agat.

Fred Cobain (UUP)

I thank the Minister for his statement on the review. Is he content that the measures that he has announced will solve all the problems with respect to rural schools? How will the measures help children in rural areas to get to school? Is he content that there are adequate funds in his departmental budget to cover the cost of the measures that he has announced today?

Conor Murphy (Sinn Féin)

Last year, there was a particular focus on the conditions that pertained in December and in January and February. The focus of Members and society in general was on rural schools, so I asked the Department to carry out a fairly intensive consultation, particularly with the affected schools, but also with rural schools generally to get some sense of the type of problems that people experienced.

The Member is quite right to point out that the budget to address all those issues is limited. It is clear that 80% of traffic is on roads that have been treated, and to increase that figure to 90% would double, approximately, the cost of treatment. In the current, or any, economic climate, that would be a difficult choice to make. Therefore, within limited resources, the option that I have chosen will provide a degree of flexibility and will ensure that schools that have suffered due to closure and disruption in the past are targeted through communication or, indeed, if there is an expectation of that type of weather, automatically. Moreover, there will be flexibility to allow other schools that suffer to benefit, because we cannot be certain, geographically, where adverse weather will impact. Therefore, if the need arises, other schools can be brought on board. To ensure that schools are treated, we will create a line of communication between rural schools and local Roads Service managers.

Providing schools with salting facilities will also help the situation. Not every road across the region can be salted, and the Member knows the costs associated with such a policy. However, this is an attempt to try to resolve the particular issue for rural schools. Should conditions this winter or next reveal that this type of approach is not achieving satisfactory results, I will, if I am still in office, initiate a further review, cost it and bring it forward during future discussions on the Budget.

William Hay (Speaker)

I remind the whole House that the questions on a ministerial statement are intended to facilitate holding the Minister and the Executive to account. It is not the time for making statements or for asking questions with long introductions.

A large number of Members want to ask questions on the statement, so I ask Members to keep to the convention of asking one question on the statement and to ensure that it relates to the statement. If we adhere to those conventions, we will have time for all the questions.

Michelle McIlveen (DUP)

I welcome the Minister’s statement. He selected option 2. Was his decision based purely on considerations of cost? The report identified the 44 schools most affected by weather conditions in the winter of 2008-09. Will the Minister tell us the areas in which those schools are located?

I beg the Speaker’s indulgence. The Minister stated that the provision of grit piles and salt bins would be changed. Will he elaborate on that?

Conor Murphy (Sinn Féin)

Option 2 was more expensive than option 1. My decision was not, therefore, made strictly on the basis of cost. Rather, I was trying to find the most flexible and effective option. If we encounter similar weather conditions this winter, that will test whether this approach works.

I do not have the list to hand, but I will ensure that the Member is provided with a list of the 44 schools that suffered particular problems and expressed a desire for particular treatment.

Formerly, criteria had to be met for the provision of salt boxes. However, we have adopted a more flexible approach. If a school requests provision of salt boxes, the request will be met.

Cathal Boylan (Sinn Féin)

Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. I welcome the Minister’s statement. Obviously, he has been much lobbied, especially in the constituency that we both represent. He has been lobbied, in particular, by Clady Primary School, which faced adverse conditions last year.

During his review, did the Minister consider speaking with rural companies, farmers or the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development about the possibility of them providing additional support to Roads Service’s gritting procedures?

Conor Murphy (Sinn Féin)

I discussed the matter with Michelle Gildernew, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The Member knows that farmers are already involved, through contracts, to clear snow from roads. We examined whether that work could be built on to include salting and gritting. However, the matter was not pursued for a number of reasons. First, it would significantly increase the amount of salting and, therefore, the cost of the operation. Salting done in a piecemeal way is less efficient and more expensive than using large-capacity gritters. Secondly, there are problems of command and control, of contacting all the farmers and telling them when to grit. There is also the likelihood of discontinuous treatment, with roads being salted for several miles but the treatment discontinued without any warning to the motorist. We would have to rely on people contracted to come out and to be available.

All those factors led us to conclude that the work is better done by Roads Service. Farmers will continue to be involved in snow-clearance operations wherever such conditions pertain. As I have said, we explored the option with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD).

Tommy Gallagher (Social Democratic and Labour Party)

I welcome the Minister’s news. It is some help that the statement recognises that there are problems for some primary schools in rural and isolated areas.

My question is when those schools will know? Identifying schools with difficulties is one thing, but there are some problem areas. Does the Minister recognise the difficulties of Boa in County Fermanagh, where children from that area attend three or four different schools, yet it is the area in Fermanagh that is most affected by severe weather?

Conor Murphy (Sinn Féin)

Through contact and discussion with schools, the examination was targeted at schools that had had difficultly opening or had lost days last winter to ensure that they did not suffer the same problems this year. There is a communication system through which schools can make contact, and local Roads Service operators will know whether there is a problem in the vicinity of those schools that should be treated. It is two-way: schools can make contact to say that they have a problem, and they will then receive secondary treatment; or, under the general secondary treatment schedule, operators will know about the situation in certain areas.

The Member made a point about specific areas. If roads in his locality have a heavy volume of traffic, the local divisional office will be happy to carry out an assessment. Roads come onto the schedule every year as traffic volumes increase, which is why the cost of winter gritting is increasing. Traffic volume is increasing, which brings certain roads above the criteria and allows them to be included. If the Member feels that specific roads in Fermanagh merit consideration, I invite him to bring them to the attention of the local divisional office.

Kieran McCarthy (Alliance)

I welcome the document. Will the Minister furnish me with a list of the 44 schools mentioned? I am sure that other Members want to know the locations of the 44 schools.

In the proposal to enhance option 2, for which the Minister has gone, Roads Service staff would become aware of ice that is adjacent to targeted schools. Is the Minister confident that, when local Roads Service personnel are informed of this fact, they will carry out their functions and will not say, with reluctance, that they can do so only by removing the service from elsewhere?

Conor Murphy (Sinn Féin)

The review was carried out with Roads Service and with people who are involved in the winter gritting service across every division. The options were discussed with them and with the schools. The 44 schools to which I referred — I will get the list for the Member— are those that reported having problems last year. That is how the list was drawn up: contact was made with all rural schools, and those 44 schools reported problems. Those schools will be added to the general list of secondary treatment for certain areas, either through schools contacting Roads Service to make it aware of a problem and asking it to come out, or, if the general area is being treated, Roads Service will know to do that, and that area will be added onto its schedules.

Allan Bresland (DUP)

How much legal responsibility do school staff have for gritting the roads around the schools?

Conor Murphy (Sinn Féin)

It is not down to a question of legal responsibility. A number of schools will have salt boxes provided to them, or there will be grit piles on some of the rural routes, which people can use if they feel it necessary; I do not think that there is a legal obligation on them to do that.

The amendment to the policy is that, where previously schools were automatically given salt boxes only if they passed a certain threshold, it is now the case that, if schools request them, they will receive them. The schools must spread the salt, but I do not think that that brings a legal responsibility.

Raymond McCartney (Sinn Féin)

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as a ráiteas ar maidin. I welcome the Minister’s statement and his answers to date.

Will the Minister outline how he intends to bring the new proposals to the attention of the schools and the local communities that they undoubtedly affect?

Conor Murphy (Sinn Féin)

Roads Service has been in contact with all rural schools, and those communications ought to continue. Although the policy will examine the 44 schools that were affected last year, flexibility is built in should other schools experience problems. Roads Service will want to maintain that level of direct communication with the schools.

As regards making the change in policy more widely known in general, the first intention was to deliver the statement to the Assembly. The Member will know that the report, including the options that we considered and the choice that we made, has been delivered to the Committee for Regional Development. Roads Service officials will brief the Committee and take questions this week. I will talk to the Department about making the change to the winter service operation more widely known.

George Robinson (DUP)

Although the provision of grit piles and salt boxes is welcome, does the Minister agree that, particularly on footpaths leading to schools, it is unfair to depend on the goodwill of a member of the public or school staff? Roads Service staff have the knowledge that is required, so they would be the most cost-effective way of deploying the resources in grit piles and salt boxes.

Conor Murphy (Sinn Féin)

From his time in the Regional Development Committee, the Member will know that there is a finite resource available for doing all this, and we are trying to find the most cost-effective way of achieving a good result for rural schools. People are relied on to use grit piles and salt boxes, and they usually request that the piles or boxes are situated on routes along the road or in and around schools for that express purpose.

The Member will be aware that Roads Service made an attempt to reach an agreement with local councils in respect of footpath gritting. Only one of the 26 councils expressed an interest in becoming involved in footpath-gritting arrangements with Roads Service. Roads Service’s road-gritting schedule covers roads that are used by 80% of daily traffic, and to expand that to cover footpaths would involve substantial resources, which Roads Service does not have. The purpose of the chosen option is to try to make an improvement, having learned the lessons from last year. If this winter is as severe as last, the operation of the new policy will be tested and we will see whether more substantial resources are required to deal with it in the future. If that is the case, it will be a matter for discussion at Budget time.

Danny Kinahan (UUP)

I thank the Minister for his statement. In particular, I welcome his choice of option 2 and the flexibility that it provides. However, what action will be taken to ensure that he will have flexibility and the chance to make an urgent response? Given that cold periods tend to happen everywhere on the same day and that more than 44 schools will be affected, what action will he take to ensure that the phone lines do not jam and that things are dealt with urgently?

Conor Murphy (Sinn Féin)

Even last year’s cold weather, when there was a prolonged period of icy weather in December and a period of snow in January and into February, was localised. In discussions with the Met Office, we were told that it is expected that such conditions will occur once every 12 years. The scenario that the Member outlined, in which an entire region is beset with that type of severe weather, is rare. Under such circumstances, Roads Service would certainly struggle to get that type of response.

The purpose of the examination was to try to focus on some of the schools to which for a variety of reasons, such as their locality or surrounding terrain, approach was more difficult than other rural schools. Representatives from 250 rural schools were spoken to and 44 had had problems. That showed that the majority can continue to operate, even in severe winter weather. We have to focus in and around the schools that need assistance. The type of scenario suggested by the Member would overwhelm the entire network, probably, but we do not expect that to occur.

Flexibility is built into the option, as the Member acknowledges, and it will be tested over the next number of winters. If it is found not to be sufficient to do the job that we have set out to do, we will need more resources, and that will be discussed when the Budget is being agreed.

Declan O'Loan (Social Democratic and Labour Party)

I would also like to receive a list of the 44 schools, as, I am sure, would all Members. The wording of option 2 seems to place a lot of the initiative on the schools. In many cases, that might be too late in the day. Will the Minister ensure that Roads Service takes a proactive approach and that the primary responsibility to identify the necessary action, and take that action, rests with Roads Service?

As the Minister knows, extreme conditions on rural roads can occur on a random basis but can cause immense local difficulty. Will he write to Roads Service and say that he actively encourages it to use its discretion, within its resources, to take action to deal with local problems when they emerge, which cause, as he knows, immense local hardship?

Conor Murphy (Sinn Féin)

With respect to the Member’s question about communication, the Department added that to option 2 because the onus was on schools to make contact with Roads Service, and, depending on the circumstances, that may have been difficult for some schools to do.

The first salting run is usually completed by 7.00 am, meaning that the gritting lorries are generally back at the depot at that time and are ready to begin working on secondary routes. That allows time for those who arrive early at the schools, such as the principals or the people who open the schools, to contact Roads Service if there is a problem with the area around a school. However, built into the gritting schedule is the mechanism for Roads Service to treat the roads around any of the 44 identified schools if a general problem is discovered in an area.

With respect to the Member’s question about localised problems; I live in a rural area and on a C-class road, and I am very aware that small, localised problems can occur. However, a certain volume of traffic is required to travel over the salt in order for the solution that treats the ice and frost to be activated. Salt is ineffective if it is put down on roads that are very lightly used. I have always encouraged, and will continue to encourage, Roads Service to be as flexible as it can, within its limited resources, to ensure that particular problems in local areas are dealt with.

Willie Clarke (Sinn Féin)

Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. I also thank the Minister for his statement and for his proposals. I raised the issue at a meeting of the Committee for Regional Development after receiving a considerable number of calls from constituents. I am, therefore, pleased that the Minister has taken action.

Another major issue, which is perhaps outside the scope of today’s announcement, is that rural businesses are affected by adverse weather conditions. It is a particular problem in my constituency where a number of restaurants and hotels lost bookings in the run-up to Christmas last year, which severely impacted on their businesses. Will the Minister examine those issues too?

Conor Murphy (Sinn Féin)

The focus of the review I have announced today concerns the gritting of roads around rural schools. As I said, the issue not only raises concerns about children’s safety as they travel to school, it has an impact on the economy, as parents are forced to take the day off work to look after their children when the schools close.

In an answer to a previous question, I made it clear that the gritting schedule has changed, over time, and that more roads have been added to the schedule each year because of increasing volumes of traffic. However, if the Member feels that there are businesses in his area that are attracting a substantial volume of traffic, he should ask his local Roads Service office to reassess the roads on which those businesses are situated and determine whether they meet the criteria to be included on the gritting schedule. Indeed, if any other Members feel that particular roads in their area have become more heavily used, because of a rural business or place of entertainment, they should bring that information to the attention of the local Roads Service office and ask for that road to be reassessed.

Ian McCrea (DUP)

I thank the Minister for his statement and for his commitment to tackle the problem of gritting roads around rural schools.

Will the Minister inform the House what action is taken against drivers of gritting lorries who have accidents while gritting roads? I am led to believe that formal warnings are issued when that occurs, yet members of staff are putting their lives on the line to tackle difficult roads.

Conor Murphy (Sinn Féin)

If the Member has a specific concern he should raise it directly with me outside the Chamber or with Roads Service. There is a very strong acknowledgement from Roads Service, and the community as a whole, that those who carry out the winter gritting service work in very adverse weather conditions. Society should be very grateful to the people who do that work, because they carry out a much needed service during unsociable hours, and on road conditions that can be quite treacherous.

As Roads Service employs its own drivers, there is an inbuilt understanding with respect to the conditions they face. However, if the Member has specific queries in relation to a specific incident, I will be happy to hear from him and to have Roads Service answer those queries.

Barry McElduff (Sinn Féin)

Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as a ráiteas. I welcome the action being taken by the Minister. Where will the responsibility for the gritting of rural roads sit following the implementation of the review of public administration? How many of the 44 schools are in the Western Education and Library Board area? I hope that Recarson Primary School, Altamuskin Primary School, Tummery Primary School and the Derrybard Road feature prominently on that list.

Conor Murphy (Sinn Féin)

The gritting of roads is not a function that has been considered for transfer under the review of public administration. There are substantial arguments against doing that, as the gritting schedule changes substantially. Some councils, particularly those in the rural west, will have more resources devoted to gritting than other councils will have, and that might create an imbalance in the resources needed by councils for treating roads. The argument for retaining much of Road Service’s functions was sound, and the gritting of roads will not be transferred.

I am happy to provide a list of the 44 schools. All rural schools were contacted, and the 44 schools on the list outlined particular problems that they had experienced last year. I am not sure whether they are in the west, east, north or south, but I am happy to provide the Member with the list.

Jim Shannon (DUP)

I thank the Minister for his response to Members’ concerns. We have been told that the options included 23 schools and 44 schools. On occasions last winter, the number of pupils attending schools was reduced because of icy road conditions. The road conditions may not have led to the closure of those schools but, clearly, they reduced the schools’ service delivery. The magical list contains 44 schools, and if a school is on that list, it has made it. However, I am perturbed about the schools that are not on that list. I do not know the names of the schools on the list; I will not now list the schools in the Ards Peninsula that need to be on it. Will the Minister confirm that schools that are not on the list but feel that they should be can be included? What criteria will be used to ensure that such schools can be added?

Conor Murphy (Sinn Féin)

Roads Service questioned schools about absenteeism, and I referred to that in my statement. Some schools experience absenteeism of around 20%. We did not only examine whether schools had to close; we looked into their general experience during times of adverse weather conditions. I favoured option two because it has a degree of flexibility built into it. Those 44 schools told Roads Service about particular problems that they had experienced last year, but there is the flexibility that if some of those schools do not experience any problems this year for different reasons, other schools can be included.

I advocate that, before winter sets in, rural schools should get a direct line of communication with their local roads manager, or whoever he appoints to be the liaison between Roads Service and the school. Those schools should ensure that those lines of communication are open so that if they experience any difficulties, they can be brought to the attention of Roads Service as soon as possible.

Roy Beggs (UUP)

I thank the Minister for his statement and his proposals, which may bring some improvements to 44 schools. Last winter, two 53-seater buses carrying post-primary schoolchildren from a rural area to the town of Larne crashed. The Minister is focused on rural schools. It is not clear whether instances such as the one that I referred to will be covered. Will he advise whether, even if they have not been considered so far, the bus routes to post-primary schools will be carefully assessed to address the risk factors involved with a large number of children travelling on an icy road in a large vehicle that is difficult to manoeuvre?

Conor Murphy (Sinn Féin)

As I said in response to an early question, this option does not cover all of the routes. It would not be possible to salt all bus routes without a significant increase in resources.

Information garnered from education and library boards tells us that if all school bus routes were to be salted, that would more than double the length of the current salted network. Apart from a capital investment of £15 million, to salt all school bus routes would cost between £4·5 million and £7 million extra each year. Within current resources, that level of expenditure is not feasible. An increased weighting factor for buses has been introduced in the past number of years, so a 40-seater bus is counted as 40 vehicles for the purpose of meeting the traffic-flow criteria on the salted network. That measure has gone some way towards ensuring that some of the school bus routes meet the criteria for salting.

Option 2 is focused particularly on those schools that faced difficulty in staying open last winter. If the weather conditions are such this winter, and perhaps next winter, a trial of option 2 will be targeted at those schools. If it is found not to be sufficient, we will have to examine longer-term options, which will have much more significant resource implications.

John Dallat (Social Democratic and Labour Party)

I also welcome the statement, at least until I discover that St Paul’s College in Kilrea has not been included on the list of 44 schools. If it has not been, I will be skidding all over the place. Can the Minister assure us that areas where local people have gone to the ends of the earth to protect their children’s safety — even to the extent of their going out on tractors and manure sowers to keep the roads clear — will not be disadvantaged? He stated that the focus will be on schools that had to close last winter. The school that I mentioned, St Paul’s, did not close, but that it did not was only as a result of the goodness of people in the local community, who kept the school open in what is a very hilly area.

Conor Murphy (Sinn Féin)

As I said, Roads Service surveyed the schools that had particular problems, and options were brought to me on the basis of consultation with all rural schools. If the school that the Member refers to did not experience a severe problem that forced it to close, it will not have been targeted for the trial.

A lower criterion of 1,000 vehicles a day for roads on hilly terrain has already been set, and the increased weighting factor for buses in service will help such roads to meet it. Again, if there are particular problems, and if the Member feels that roads are experiencing heavier traffic because of an increase in traffic volumes, he should bring his concerns to the local Roads Service office’s attention.

The Member will be aware of all the resource issues involved, because he was a member of the Committee for Regional Development until recently. As I have explained, if we were to salt every single road in the North, first, it would not work on certain roads, because a certain amount of traffic is needed in order to activate the salt. It would be a complete waste of resources to salt roads on which traffic is very light. Secondly, to increase from 80% to 90% the percentage of roads to be salted would double the cost incurred. If Roads Service were provided with money to salt 90% of roads, I am sure that it would be happy to send extra machinery out to do the salting. However, within the resources available, option 2 allows Roads Service to provide a focused response for schools and some rural areas that have experienced particular difficulty.

Francie Molloy (Sinn Féin)

I thank the Minister for his initiative on this issue, and I also congratulate Roads Service, which has been flexible in assisting funerals, weddings and other events in rural areas. Does he consider that secondary salting will be adequate to deal with schools in rural areas? Will the service be available on time so that Roads Service can ensure a safe surface?

Conor Murphy (Sinn Féin)

The general experience is that, after completing primary salting, the vehicles are back in the depots by around 7.00 am. We then want the 44 schools that have been identified to be put at the top of the list for secondary salting. Few people will be going to school before 8.00 am, so the secondary salting schedules should provide an opportunity for roads approaching those schools to be salted. I expect option 2 to operate favourably for those schools for which a particular problem has been identified. It is a new option that will be trialled over the next year or two, and I certainly hope that it will provoke the sort of response that we would like it to.

Trevor Lunn (Alliance)

I also welcome the Minister’s constructive statement. In his reply to Mr Cobain, he mentioned the possibility of further reviews. On several occasions, he mentioned giving local Roads Service offices a level of flexibility. In my experience, that level of flexibility has been absent so far, but we hope for better times. If there is to be flexibility, as well as taking into account traffic volumes, which I appreciate must be the main criterion for deciding to salt any road, is there a possibility of considering a particular road’s accident history? Members of the local community will know how many accidents there have been on particular roads — even those of which the police are not notified — so they could also have some input.

Conor Murphy (Sinn Féin)

The local offices have a degree of flexibility within the resources that are available to them. People who contacted their local office over the winter about a particular road and were told that it did not have the resources must understand that that may have been the case. Criteria are applied, and a particular focus is placed on the schools that had problems last year.

The Member may be interested to know that police statistics show that frost, ice and snow are factors in only 1·2% of all road injury accidents and that less than 1% of accidents occur on roads that are outside the normal salted network. Although I am sure that accident history is taken into account, a very small percentage of road accidents are attributed to frost, ice and snow.