To ask the Minister for Infrastructure to detail any plans to reassess and revise her Department’s policies post-COVID-19, in order to reflect changes in society where more people are moving toward rural areas.

My Department’s policies are regularly reviewed to ensure they continue to be relevant and appropriate. The changes in society due to COVID-19 will be fully considered when individual policy reviews are being undertaken.

I am committed to delivering cleaner, greener and healthier communities as we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic. Providing safe routes that give people the freedom and confidence to walk, wheel and cycle as part of their everyday routine is one of the ways in which I hope to change the way we live for the better.

For example, in addition to pop-up cycle lanes in Belfast and pop-up cycle infrastructure on Foyle Riverside and Queens Quay in Derry, I have provided funding to support Councils in the construction of greenway schemes across Northern Ireland. I am keen to provide further capital funding through my Blue Green Infrastructure Fund to assist Councils to develop greenways that will provide walking and cycling links to rural areas.

I also contributed £5million to the DfC Covid 19 Recovery Revitalisation Programme which was allocated across Councils. This funding is being used for projects which improve connectivity by making it more attractive to walk and cycle to access key services and which protect and enhance our green and blue infrastructure.