The Department for Infrastructure has been unable to provide details of how much of its budget is spent on active travel, despite a 2030 target of spending 10% on sustainable transport policies.
The requirement for the Stormont department to spend a minimum of 10% of its transport budget on active travel was established when the Climate Change Act was passed by the assembly in 2022.
In a response to a Freedom of Information request from environmental campaign group Act Now, it said data reporting around spend on cycling and walking and other active travel measures is still being developed.
“We do not hold the data in the format that you are requesting. Reporting against the requirements of Section 22 going forward is being developed,” the response said.
The response quoted the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 and said it would not be in the public interest to disclose the information.
“Parliament recognised that there will be circumstances when the public interest is best served by not disclosing information.
“One of those circumstances is when a public authority is involved in a process of policy development and initial implementation.
“When the policies have been formulated and implemented, information that may be withheld from public disclosure today may be made available in the future.”
The departmental response added that it would not be in a position to meet its 10% target this year, but a “ramping up” of investment will see it meet the figures by 2030.
Roan Ellis-O’Neill, campaigner at Act Now expressed disappointment.
“Three years on from the passing of the Climate Change Act, the irony is that (the minister) is running out of road if his department is to meet its legally binding climate targets on active travel by 2030,” he said.
