Part of Ministerial Statements – in the Northern Ireland Assembly at 3:30 pm on 13 December 2021.
Conor Murphy
Sinn Féin
3:30,
13 December 2021
Undoubtedly, some projects run into difficulties as attempts are made to deliver them. The A5 should have been delivered many years ago. It was held up by various objections and tribunals to hear those objections. That was regrettable. As outlined by my colleague earlier, people continue to die along that stretch of road because it is very dangerous. As someone who travels along the Westlink most mornings, I understand full well the importance of the York Street interchange project.
However, look at all the capital projects that the Department for Infrastructure delivered over the past number of years, even though we had a challenging report and there are lessons to be learned. Look at the broad range of capital projects that the Executive have delivered on time and on budget. You can, of course, pick out the ones that had particular problems.
It is important that we get capital right. Capital allocations will be a challenge, particularly in year 3 of the Budget. Nonetheless, Departments have to do things better and deliver better.
Those are important projects, and I look forward to them being developed. There is a good track record across a range of projects. We need to make sure that best practice, in its entirety, is put into projects that have struggled over time.
Ministerial statements are made after questions and urgent questions, before the main business of the day. A minister speaks on behalf of the government to present its views to Parliament. Statements can be on any subject ranging from a new policy announcement to an important national or international event or crisis.