To ask the Minister for Infrastructure the outline (i) the data her Department holds on unmet transport need in East Londonderry; and (ii) how this informs investment decisions.

My department, through the application process for the Dial-a-Lift service, receive information from the Rural Community Transport Partnerships, which provides data on the level of demand they expect to fulfil in terms of this transport service. This includes information from the North Coast Community Transport partnership that primarily covers East Londonderry.

In addition, East Londonderry is covered by two Local Transport Plans: The Northwest Transport Plan and the Causeway Coast and Glens Transport Plan. These transport plans are being developed in an integrated manner with each of the council’s Local Development Plans. For this reason, these plans are at very different stages in their development.

My department is currently progressing Stage 1 of the Northwest Transport Plan (NWTP), which will guide future transport investment across the Northwest region. The Plan will identify proposals to address local transport issues, including local bus services, active travel, local road network and parking. It will provide most local detail in Derry and Strabane and this will be for the plan period up to 2035. A Baseline Report has been initially prepared to support the development of the NWTP. However, the Plans work is not sufficiently advanced at this stage to provide commentary on proposed transport measures. The Causeway Coast and Glens Transport Plan is currently at the mobilisation phase and is not yet sufficiently advanced at this time.