AQW 40602/22-27


Ms Sian Mulholland
Alliance Party
North Antrim


Tabled Date: 13/02/2026
Answered On Date: 04/03/2026
Priority Written: No


Question:
To ask the Minister for Infrastructure to detail any (i) monitoring (ii) enforcement; and (iii) audit mechanisms, in place to ensure compliance with accessibility standards for pavement use.


Answer:
My Department’s routine maintenance inspections can identify obstructions that may cause accessibility issues to footway users. Any obstruction recorded as a defect is addressed in accordance with my Departments Limited Service maintenance policy. Obstructions on footways can also be raised by members of the public or elected representatives via contact with local section offices or by using NIDirect.
The Roads (Northern Ireland) Order 1993 states that any person who, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, in any way intentionally or negligently obstructs the free passage along a road shall be guilty of an offence. A "road" includes footways.
Under Article 87 of the Order, my officals can remove obstructions such as signs or advertisements and seek to recover any expenses thereby reasonably incurred.
The location of new street furniture is subject to the guidance contained in the Department for Transport Inclusive Mobility, A Guide to Best Practice on Access to Pedestrian and Transport Infrastructure.
The siting of temporary signage related to road works is controlled by the Safety at Street Works and Road Works Code of Practice and Chapter 8 of the Traffic Signs. Works promoters are required to design and implement temporary traffic management that maintains safe and suitable access for all users, with particular regard to the disabled, elderly, and those with visual or mobility impairments.
My Department ensures compliance with the relevant codes and accessibility requirements through permitting and licensing arrangements, routine inspections by my officials, and enforcement where necessary.
Additionally, in planning and delivering new infrastructure, officials draw on policy documents that reference the Department for Transport’s Inclusive Mobility guidance and maintain regular engagement with Section 75 representative groups, including IMTAC, to ensure that the needs of vulnerable pedestrians are properly considered.
The first phase of the “Including People” strand of my “Foundations for a Better Future” initiative saw older, Deaf, and disabled people raise concerns around maintenance of pavements and the particular impact of poorly maintained pavements on those who use wheelchairs or who have reduced mobility. As the “Including People” work strand enters a second phase, my officials will continue to consider how best to address the issues which have been raised.