AQW 14202/17-22

Mr Andrew Muir
Alliance Party
North Down

Tabled Date: 05/02/2021
Answered On Date: 15/02/2021
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Infrastructure to detail the rationale for not bidding for COVID-19 resource funding to enable active travel initiatives such as (i) bike repair vouchers; and (ii) the one path scheme in 2020/21.

Answer:

In terms of a bike voucher scheme, I am not persuaded that the untargeted scheme operated in England would be the most effective use of funding. However, the development of a more targeted scheme would take significant time and it would not have been possible to develop and deliver a scheme within the available timeframe for spend by 31st March 2021.

The One Path Initiative revolves around face to face contact with users of the path and the organisation of stakeholder events and activities. It would not have been possible to arrange these during the current lockdown.