2. Mr Kingston asked the Minister for Infrastructure to outline what measures he and his officials are taking, with other statutory agencies, to address the non-cleaning of unadopted alleyways in North Belfast. (AQO 571/22-27)

My Department is not responsible for the inspection or maintenance of unadopted alleyways that are in the ownership of other parties. It is the Department's policy not to adopt alleyways and pathways that are not essential for safe vehicular and pedestrian access and where the area is already served by a good network of public footways. My Department has been operating, as I have said, in a difficult financial environment for a number of years. My Department fully supports the efforts in local communities to improve the appearance of back entries and other similar spaces in their areas to enhance community pride, reduce antisocial behaviour and improve the general area, and we will continue to engage with statutory agencies and stakeholders in an advisory capacity on the issue. Officials from my Department attended a workshop on unadopted alleyways hosted by Belfast City Council's people and communities committee in February 2024.

I thank the Minister for that stock reply. As the Minister, the Principal Deputy Speaker and other Members will be aware, unadopted alleyways are a major problem in Belfast, particularly in areas of older housing. No statutory agency will take responsibility, and, particularly with the growth of private landlords, you get alleyways that become a hazard for residents. They cannot put out their bins, and some areas get severely overgrown and become a fire risk because people cannot get out or a fire engine cannot get in. I note what the Minister said about a meeting held at the council. Is the Minister willing to continue or commence discussion with, in particular, Belfast City Council and the Housing Executive to find a solution or to support resolution of the matter? No one wants to take responsibility, and it is a real issue that affects many residents.

I certainly think that there is a responsibility to continue to engage, whether with Belfast City Council, any other council or the Housing Executive, to see whether we can find a common solution to these matters. The unfortunate thing is that, when Departments are dealing with constrained budgets and reduced staff numbers, they have to prioritise their statutory functions, which does not allow them to carry out other matters that they would like to do. I certainly want to see my Department playing its full part in local communities and engaging with and supporting them to improve the environment that people live in, but I do not want to overpromise or lead people on a merry dance by suggesting that there will be a solution from my Department to this. However, my Department and I will play our part in discussions. As we all know in this place, it is good to talk, and you may find a solution by doing that.

Does the Minister agree that it is important that all public infrastructure, including our footpaths and roads, is well maintained and kept clean?

I agree, but, unfortunately, when you get into the bureaucracy of government, you sometimes find that you have to find out who owns that public infrastructure. That is the challenge for each Department. However, as I said to Mr Kingston, I am more than happy to play my part, along with my Department, in engaging with any of our councils or the Housing Executive on how we can find solutions. One of the solutions may well be empowering communities and seeing how we can engage with communities and community organisations on how we can support them to maintain areas that are not under the ownership of any Department.

Question 3 has been withdrawn.