No extra money from Stormont has been made available to spend on night-time public transport services in Belfast.
Councillors at Belfast City Hall have spoken of their “frustration” following a reply from the Department for Infrastructure over new funding.
It comes as concerns remain about the night time economy in Belfast.
A number of city centre hospitality venues recently announced they would close at midnight due to punters facing problems getting in and out of town late at night.
As part of the Belfast Agenda, the city’s community plan led by the council, Translink and DfI had advocated for an extension of the night-time provision of the Metro and Glider bus services.
Belfast currently only has late-night services during designated periods including the run-up to Christmas.
In May, Belfast City Council agreed that officials would write to infrastructure minister John O’Dowd, to request that consideration be given to further funding of night-time services.
The private secretary to the minister replied: “The Minister fully understands the need to support the night-time economy and recognises the benefit that late-night public transport services can add to our economy and citizens. However, the provision and operation of services is an operational matter for Translink, within the budget available to them.”
The reply states that the DfI “has been underfunded by over a decade of cuts by the British government”.
The private secretary added: “However, you can be assured that the department will continue to work with Belfast City Council, Translink and Executive colleagues to promote active and sustainable travel where possible.”
At the council’s City Growth and Regeneration Committee, the SDLP’s Donal Lyons said: “For a comparatively small amount of money, in terms of public expenditure, we are missing a critical bit of transport infrastructure, which is the ability to get home safely at night time, with a shortage of taxis.”
Green councillor Brian Smyth said: “This is frustrating. I get there is a budget deficit, but Belfast is miles behind in terms of a proper night time economy. You go to other European cities, somewhere like Berlin, and it is 24 hours. We have bars that are closing around 12 o’clock.”
He added: “I get numerous complaints from people, particularly women, who say they don’t feel safe leaving the city centre; also complaints from people that there is a scramble for taxis, that some taxis go off meter and there are crazy prices. Someone told me they were quoted £25 from the city centre to Bloomfield.
“This is all having a detrimental impact on the night time economy.”
