£20 million invested for more street lights and potholes, reveals Mallon

By Q Radio News

Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon has outlined the challenges facing her resource budget, including a 20 million pound investment for more street lights and potholes.

In a statement to the Assembly today, Minister Mallon confirmed her department needs much more on resource to support the public transport network and NI Water.

Her announcement also includes £30 million for low emission buses,100 schools to benefit from 20mph speed limits scheme and funding to get phase 3 of the Derry – Coleraine line back on track.

Minister Mallon said that it was 'no secret' that the Department is facing real financial pressures.

She said: "While I’ve been able to allocate my budget to support services, serious gaps remain for our public transport network and NI Water. The financial climate remains difficult, significantly compounded by the Covid-19 crisis, but I am committed to seizing the opportunities to enable a greener, cleaner, recovery towards a new and better normal for all of us.

"It is no secret that the Department for Infrastructure is facing real pressures in its resource budget. While I’ve been able to allocate my budget to support services, serious gaps remain for our public transport network and NI Water.

"The financial climate remains difficult, significantly compounded by the Covid-19 crisis, but I am committed to seizing the opportunities to enable a greener, cleaner, recovery towards a new and better normal for all of us.

"In the weeks ahead we will also see more and more people return to work, businesses reopen and our towns and cities and our roads becoming busier. As we look towards this recovery phase our infrastructure is key and I have carefully considered how to balance maintaining and investing in existing infrastructure assets with investing in new projects and infrastructure that support the new way we are living.

"We have to think differently. We have to be bold. We have to seize our chance for change."