To ask the Minister for Infrastructure to detail the projects and investment her Department has created in rural areas of East Londonderry during this Assembly mandate.

North Coast Community Transport (NCCT) is funded by my Department via the Rural Transport Fund (RFT) to deliver Dial-a-Lift (DAL). DAL is an accessible, affordable transport option across rural communities available to those people who are socially isolated and have difficulty accessing public transport. Passenger transport trips provided under DAL are restricted to NCCTS’s operational area which is not specific to, but includes the rural areas of East Derry.

I am very aware of the invaluable contribution both these services make towards enabling some of the most vulnerable people in our society to overcome barriers to social interaction and to access essential services.

Since I have been in post as DfI Minister the total amount of funding paid by my Department to NCCT from 1 January 2020 – 31 March 2022 is £1,432,355. The table below details the funding streams and amounts paid.

* ARTS is funded by DAERA but administered by my Department. ARTS is paid monthly in arrears therefore, at this time, we only hold payment details until 31 January 2022.

** One off payments issued as a result of financial hardship due to COVID.

*** Blue/green infrastructure capital funding was received for the purchase of an electric vehicle and charging point as part of a trial which all community transport operators are taking part in.

I have provided funding to Translink to upgrade the Coleraine Integrated Station in 2021 with an overall budget of £1.1m. A project to re-rail the track between Ballymoney and Coleraine is currently underway with a total budget of £8.1m.

I have also committed to getting the Derry to Coleraine Phase 3 rail project back on track. Translink has completed a Feasibility Study and Outline Business Case for Coleraine - Derry Phase 3 project with a view to it being undertaken in 2025/26, which is currently with my Department for consideration. In addition, I have also commissioned a feasibility study to consider additional halts along the Derry to Belfast rail corridor with a view to implementing a half hourly service. This is due to complete in summer 2022. A Feasibility study has also been completed for a Park & Ride facility at Bellarena.

Buses for East Derry to the value of £13.6m have been purchased from January 2020 and this does not include the ongoing £30m investment in Zero Emission vehicles and associated infrastructure for Foyle Metro in 2023.

I contributed £5million from my Department’s Blue Green Infrastructure fund in 2020/21 to DfC’s Covid Recovery Revitalisation programme of which £373,000 was allocated to Derry City and Strabane District Council and £395,000 was allocated to Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council.

I also contributed £6.5million from my Department’s Blue Green Infrastructure fund in 2021/22 to DfC’s Covid Recovery Small Settlements Revitalisation programme of which £605,000 was allocated to Derry City and Strabane District Council and £600,000 was allocated to Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council.

For both programmes the funding was to be used for supporting active travel, promoting connectivity and access to services, and/or create and enhance green / blue spaces.

I am also pleased to say that we have made considerable investment in roads infrastructure in the rural areas of East Derry during this mandate. Details of roads infrastructure projects already delivered, ongoing and planned are contained in the Department’s Reports to Causeway Coast & Glens Borough Council and Derry City and Strabane Council District Council which are available to view on my Department’s website. The tables below contain details of some of the more significant projects already completed or ongoing: