AQW 14491/17-22

Ms Paula Bradshaw
Alliance Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 11/02/2021
Answered On Date: 22/07/2021
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health whether he will publish the Northern Ireland-specific evidence for the Chief Medical Officer's publicly stated contention that greater restrictions will be required in the coming winter than in the coming summer.

Answer:

Under the Roads (Northern Ireland) Order 1993, my Department has the power to remove any bonfire material near or on a public road, which may constitute a danger to road users. Given that bonfire management is an inter-agency issue, my Department continues to take a joint approach with the other agencies in the management of bonfire sites.

My Department’s experience has been that many of the complaints received from the public are related to the stockpiling of materials on sites adjacent to public roads, which are not owned or controlled by my Department. On occasions where the overspill from bonfire stockpiles obstructs a public road or footway, my Department will remove it or arrange for it to be pushed back off the road onto the bonfire site, in consultation with the police and local communities as necessary. Where damage has been caused to a road, the Department will carry out removal and repair work required.