AQW 38540/22-27

Mr Andrew McMurray
Alliance Party
South Down

Tabled Date: 19/01/2026
Answered On Date: 20/02/2026
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Infrastructure to detail any plans her Department has in relation to footpaths in rural areas, given her active travel commitments.

Answer:

Active travel improvements taken forward by my Department are for road safety reasons, and to encourage modal shift.

Improvements which are prioritised on the basis of road safety are undertaken in line with the Roads Policy and Procedure Guide (RSPPG) EO32. Pedestrian enhancement measures provided under this policy include the installation of pedestrian crossings, missing link footways and provision of dropped kerbs.

Active travel improvements are typically prioritised in line with delivery plans developed with the aim of creating well connected pedestrian and cycling networks.

Since the introduction of the Climate Change Act, the main focus of my Department, with respect to encouraging more people to walk, wheel or cycle, has concentrated on developing the Active Travel Delivery Plan and enhancing my department’s design guidance for the delivery of active travel schemes.

Consultation on the Active Travel Delivery Plan demonstrated the need to take a different approach when prioritising high-quality active travel infrastructure in rural areas to that applied in an urban context. Once work on the Active Trave Delivery Plan is complete, officials will consider how best to prioritise active travel investment to maximise benefits in rural areas.