Budget For NI Infrastructure 'Falls Well Short'

The Department for Infrastructure's day-to-day spending budget is set to be cut by 14%, prompting calls of concern from local MLAs.

This reduced budget could result in cuts to public transport and turning off streetlights to help make savings.

Alliance MLA Andrew Muir has issued a warning over the cuts, claiming they will result in a bigger bills long-term and "crumbling" infrastructure across NI.


The North Down MLA added: "It fathoms belief the ability to walk, run, cycle and move about with the security of street lighting is under threat, alongside the critical supply of water and waste water services. Just over a year after the passage of the Climate Change Act, it is a shocking indictment of the paralysis affecting government that we look likely to abandon climate change commitments at the first hurdle, with funding for bus, rail, community transport and active travel provision facing the guillotine.

"Northern Ireland cannot wait a day longer before restoration of the Executive, which would be capable of making the collective case for a funding package to get us off the cycle of cuts. Every day lost without Stormont means more damage inflicted upon key public services we all rely upon."