Debate resumed on amendment to motion:

That this Assembly recognises the need for high-quality mobile coverage in rural communities across Northern Ireland; supports the roll-out of the Shared Rural Network (SRN) by the UK Government and four leading mobile network operators and welcomes progress to date; expresses concern that further investment in new and existing phone masts under this initiative has been jeopardised by major delays in the planning process; believes no community should be left behind as a consequence; notes with disappointment the Minister for Infrastructure’s failure to engage directly or meaningfully with the mobile infrastructure industry since February 2024; urges the Department for Infrastructure to update planning guidance to local councils in order to advance this project and ensure the planning system supports the delivery of rural mobile infrastructure more generally; and calls on the Minister to urgently address barriers to extending the 4G and 5G mobile network in rural and hard-to-reach areas of Northern Ireland. — [Mrs Erskine.]

Which amendment was:

Leave out all after "consequence;" and insert: "acknowledges the work of the Department for the Economy in leading the barrier busting task force and its planning subgroup, including the involvement of the Department for Infrastructure, local councils and mobile network companies; endorses the aims of the subgroup to identify barriers relating to the planning system and to investigate best practice in mobile network development; further believes no community should be left behind; and calls on the Minister for Infrastructure to support the work of the task force to address the barriers to extending the 4G and 5G mobile network in rural areas, whilst respecting the principles of an inclusive planning system and ensuring the benefits of mobile coverage are maximised across this region." — [Mr Boylan.]

We return to the motion on high-quality mobile coverage in rural areas. Minister, you have seven minutes remaining in which to respond to the motion.

Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. In response to the Chair's comments, just before we broke for lunch: the matters raised by the umbrella group for the mobile phone industry were the same as the issues raised with me by Vodafone UK when I met it, and we had an opportunity to discuss those.

As I said, there is a push for permitted development. I think that that is a mistake, but, as I committed to earlier, we will continue to work with the mobile phone industry and others to ensure that everything is being done so that we have appropriate development of that and other industries across rural and other areas.

Under the review of public administration, the Executive agreed to transfer significant planning functions to local government, a decision that remains right and proper as it allows communities to hold their councils accountable for how they discharge their planning functions. Councils, as individual, sovereign political authorities, therefore have a hugely important leadership role in delivering the main operational aspects of the system. That includes taking decisions on all planning applications for telecommunications development and producing local development plans, including local policies for telecommunications development, a process fundamental to the reform-led system and for the effective enforcement of planning control.

As has been said, planning authorities rely on the expertise of statutory consultees to ensure that important public interests, such as road safety and environmental impact, are properly taken into account in planning decisions. Many of my ministerial colleagues will, therefore, also have a role in directly contributing to the effectiveness of the planning system. The mobile phone industry has an important role to play in site selection, the quality of applications entering the system, and timely and adequate provision of information.

A number of Members made comments about their perception and experience of poor phone communication in certain areas. The comments from Keith Buchanan were particularly enlightening in respect of more use of poles instead of dedicated masts and perhaps a perception that mobile phone companies are moving away from having masts on private land to where they do not have to pay land rent, which may have an implication for the quality of phone communication in some areas. It has to be said that communications companies are individual companies in their own right, and they will make commercial decisions that they believe to be in the best interests of their company.

Concern was raised about applications for individual masts rather than shared masts. There is a belief that there should be more sharing of masts among companies, which would mean not having the same amount of infrastructure spread across the countryside. Where there are existing telecommunication masts, we do have permitted development whereby changes can be made without the necessity for a fresh planning application.

I mentioned that my officials are involved in the DFI-led barrier busting task force. I have listened to Members' concerns about the failure of that group to meet more regularly. I will play my part to ensure that the group does meet on a more regular basis and that issues that impact on the applicant or community are fully addressed and lessons learned. Where required changes are to be made, I will drive those changes forward to ensure that we have a modern telecommunications system in line with our modern planning policies and principles.

Thank you very much indeed, Minister. I call Áine Murphy to make a winding-up speech on the Amendment. Áine, you have up to five minutes in which to speak.

Go raibh maith agat, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle.

[Translation: Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker.]

As I make a winding-up speech on the Amendment, I thank the Members opposite for bringing the motion to the Floor today. As we have heard throughout the debate, better connectivity in rural areas is absolutely vital.

I want to take the opportunity to highlight the importance of our rural communities, and many in the Chamber have heard me wax lyrical about rural communities over the past number of months. They are sewn into the very fabric of our society. Access to services is more difficult in those areas, and a perfect example of that is the lack of access to proper mobile coverage. There are huge pockets in my Constituency and, indeed, in other rural constituencies where people cannot make a phone call from their home due to a poor signal. Entire towns have no ability to either make or take calls.

Rural communities have a proud history of entrepreneurship, from farmers to craft producers and from manufacturers to tourism operators. To expand, compete and thrive, rural businesses require access to high-quality mobile coverage. Expanding mobile coverage in our rural areas will bring local businesses into the global marketplace and ensure that rural businesses can continue to drive our local economies. Addressing that issue will also be a factor in addressing regional imbalance, and I welcome some of the steps that have taken place in relation to the roll-out of fibre-optic broadband and the commencement of Project Gigabit to capture those properties that are, unfortunately, not included in the initial roll-out.

It would be remiss of me not to mention the many factors that are at play in relation to mobile coverage. They have been touched on throughout the debate, and they include planning, commercial interests and maintenance, to name a few. Those issues have been articulated very well by Members who spoke previously, and, like many challenges facing rural communities, a one-size-fits-all approach will not address the lack of mobile coverage.

In conclusion, cross-departmental working and sectoral inclusion will be key. I acknowledge the work that is being carried out by the Department for the Economy through the task force. Of course, there are issues that we need to be cognisant of, particularly those relating to planning and concerns that are raised throughout the planning processes. It is incumbent on all local councils to take stock of those concerns and, of course, work with all stakeholders to reach appropriate decisions.

Thank you, Áine. I call Stephen Dunne to make a winding-up speech on the motion. Stephen, you have up to 10 minutes.

Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. Along with my colleagues Deborah Erskine and Keith Buchanan, I welcome the opportunity to bring this important issue to the House today on expanding the provision of high-quality mobile coverage across rural areas and also across every corner of Northern Ireland. We have had a useful and productive debate, and there has been a clear recognition and a signal — pardon the pun — from across the House that we need to see further progress on improving access to high-quality mobile coverage. We thank the Minister for taking the time to be in the Chamber today.

We have seen real progress on the roll-out of ensuring that our country is more digitally connected, and, as has been mentioned, the £150 million investment through the delivery of Project Stratum has been a game changer for so many right across our country, in both business and residential terms. While there has been significant progress, we hear what everybody has said about how there is more to be done. However, that project has transformed Northern Ireland, and we now have the highest coverage of full fibre networks right across our United Kingdom, with nine in 10 residential properties — 91% — now able to access full fibre networks. We can be proud of that, and rightly so. It shows that we are very much open for business, and digital connectivity is so crucial for the economic growth and prosperity that we all want to see. A modern society demands reliable and fast communication networks to drive economic activity but also for social purposes such as leisure and social media. There are so many modern means of communication, and affordable and secure digital infrastructure is essential for businesses and individuals.

The importance of small businesses has also been mentioned, and mobile coverage is essential for them as well. They should never be forgotten, given that they are the backbone of our economy right across our town, city and village centres. While broadband has been improved in so many places, paying for broadband can, in some cases, be a bill too far. Many microbusinesses, for example, rely on mobile coverage for their card machines to work. I was speaking to a colleague in the neighbouring Constituency of Lagan Valley recently, and there is a village there that has been experiencing very poor signal over the past weeks. That colleague highlighted how a small butcher's shop simply cannot afford to have Wi-Fi. The shop depends on mobile coverage, which highlights the fact that we definitely need to do more on it. So many industries rely on mobile coverage to create opportunities for our rural communities to develop their business.

I thank the Member for giving way. He will have seen a case study of a farm that was carried out by one of the providers here, which found that 5G-enabled sensors helped the farm to reduce its chemical usage by 30% and improve efficiency by 15%. I am sure that that does not apply to every farm, but those of us who are interested and who have followed DAERA in its pursuit of the Lough Neagh action plan could look at the likes of that and its potential to reduce the usage that contributes to some of the pollution problems in Lough Neagh.

Thank you, Mr McGlone. I certainly concur with that approach. It highlights again the real issues in our rural communities. The problem is not specific to the digital mobile coverage that we are talking about today.

It is crucial that we tackle the digital divide between urban and rural parts. We welcome the Shared Rural Network that is helping to transform communities across our United Kingdom. As a party, we are committed to ensuring that its benefits are harnessed to boost our economic competitiveness.

Exactly one mile behind the very Building in which we stand or sit is the rural townland of Craigantlet, in my Constituency of North Down, which links Bangor to Holywood, Belfast, Newtownards and Dundonald. The Craigantlet area has been continuously plagued by very poor signal for many years, with no 3G or 4G coverage at all in many parts, much to the frustration of commuters and residents alike. That has an impact on economic activity, because microbusinesses are simply unable to use mobile technology to do business and communicate in our world today. That highlights how the problems are not exclusive to the west of the Province. There are challenges in every corner of Northern Ireland. The Seahill area off the A2 between Holywood and Belfast is another notorious black spot, or not spot, despite being positioned on such a key link road between Bangor and Belfast with over 35,000 daily vehicle movements.

Operators have a responsibility to ensure that their network upgrades are located in appropriate areas. I welcome the Minister's commitment to continue to work on that issue. I have recently seen an increase in applications for masts to be located in built-up residential areas. That causes concern, and many of the concerns are genuine. Anybody who engages with residents who have those concerns knows that they need to be listened to during that process. As my colleague Mr Buchanan mentioned, these wealthy companies seem to have a desire to install the masts on publicly owned footpaths as a cost-saving measure rather than invest in private land, which would traditionally have been the model. That causes concern for many residents. It is important to strike a balance. As the Minister highlighted, the planning process is there for a reason — to take both views into account — and it is important that that continues as we seek to ensure that high-quality mobile coverage across Northern Ireland is improved. That is why we tabled the motion and why our party has focused on delivering change as a number-one priority in so many ways.

I will comment on Members' remarks. Opening the debate, my colleague Deborah Erskine highlighted the importance of planning issues and rightly pointed out that planning is a cross-departmental matter, with several Departments being responsible. She highlighted that it is important that Northern Ireland is not left behind. She also made a valid point, which was echoed by several Members, about emergency services relying on mobile technology. We think of the accidents on our rural roads, for example. The emergency services rely on having adequate and connected mobile coverage.

Cathal Boylan said that phone networks have work to do and highlighted that there are still gaps, including in broadband provision. He warmly welcomed our £150 million delivery on broadband — thank you for that, Mr Boylan — but yes, there are still areas that need investment. He highlighted the work that there is to do on the barrier busting task force.

Andrew McMurray said that barriers to mobile coverage need to be removed for the agriculture and tourism sectors. He made the important point that, in many parts of Northern Ireland, there is still work to be done on local development plans.

John Stewart said that it is not just an issue for the west of the province and that he wants to see a streamlined planning process. Mark Durkan highlighted the fact that there are still many not spots, particularly in the north-west, and said that he does not like tit-for-tat motions. Given that that is his policy, we may now see fewer SDLP motions being tabled.

[Laughter.]

We would welcome that. He also talked about hybrid working and the importance of offering those with caring responsibilities or disabilities opportunities. That point can be lost: this is not just about businesses but about people struggling with caring responsibilities and disabilities.

Linda Dillon mentioned some areas of Mid Ulster and the need for a balance to be struck between building infrastructure and listening to residents' concerns. My colleague Keith Buchanan also mentioned Mid Ulster and highlighted the importance of being able to access GPs and hospitals and of site sharing, which is something that can be built on.

Justin McNulty talked about the subgroup and the need for better communication. Peter McReynolds talked about the impact of 4G in rural areas and about the need to work together to improve our planning processes, which is something that we can all buy into.

Patsy McGlone talked about small businesses on the move and highlighted the deterioration in service in some areas over the past number of years. That is an important point, and we urge the Minister to continue to make representations to the industry about those areas where we have seen a reduction in service, because that is not something that we should be seeing happen.

We have had a useful debate. I welcome the Minister's commitments on this important issue, which is one that we should keep to the fore.

Question, That the Amendment be made, put and agreed to.

Main Question, as amended, put and agreed to.

Resolved:

That this Assembly recognises the need for high-quality mobile coverage in rural communities across Northern Ireland; supports the roll-out of the Shared Rural Network (SRN) by the UK Government and four leading mobile network operators and welcomes progress to date; expresses concern that further investment in new and existing phone masts under this initiative has been jeopardised by major delays in the planning process; believes no community should be left behind as a consequence; acknowledges the work of the Department for the Economy in leading the barrier busting task force and its planning subgroup, including the involvement of the Department for Infrastructure, local councils and mobile network companies; endorses the aims of the subgroup to identify barriers relating to the planning system and to investigate best practice in mobile network development; further believes no community should be left behind; and calls on the Minister for Infrastructure to support the work of the task force to address the barriers to extending the 4G and 5G mobile network in rural areas, whilst respecting the principles of an inclusive planning system and ensuring the benefits of mobile coverage are maximised across this region.

Motion made: That the Assembly do now adjourn. — [Mr Deputy Speaker (Dr Aiken).]