NI Infrastructure 'Left To Crumble' If Budget Cuts Imposed

Budget cuts in the Department for Infrastructure (DFI) will see key projects across Northern Ireland "left to crumble", Alliance Infrastructure spokesperson Andrew Muir MLA has said.

Following the announcement of the new NI Budget last week, the DFI is predicting day-to-day spending cuts of 14%, with some suggesting street lights will be turned off and public transport reduced to help lower spending.

Highlighting the importance of 'safe and sustainable infrastructure' and how shelving key infrastructure works will only increase the cost later on, Mr Muir said: "It fathoms belief the ability to walk, run, cycle and move about with the security of street lighting is under threat, alongside the critical supply of water and waste water services. Just over a year after the passage of the Climate Change Act, it is a shocking indictment of the paralysis affecting government that we look likely to abandon climate change commitments at the first hurdle, with funding for bus, rail, community transport and active travel provision facing the guillotine.

"Northern Ireland cannot wait a day longer before restoration of the Executive, which would be capable of making the collective case for a funding package to get us off the cycle of cuts. Every day lost without Stormont means more damage inflicted upon key public services we all rely upon."