It follows the publication of the Northern Ireland Audit Office's ‘Active Travel in Northern Ireland’ report, which highlights underspend for active travel, missed targets and failure to deliver.
 
The Climate Change Act (Northern Ireland) requires the Department to spend 10% of its overall transport budget on active travel. Currently, the Department have spent around £50 million annually on active travel, when to meet requirements they should be spending around £85 million.
 
The East Belfast MLA has said: "As Infrastructure Spokesperson and Chair of the All Party Group on Active Travel, it is disappointing to yet again see active travel being overlooked at a Departmental level. The potential for growth is there andtoday's report makes clear the Department for Infrastructure is failing to meet its targets and obligations."
 
"Significant underspend is evident through the failure of targets being met for the use of active travel methods. Objectives need to be set and met to ensure the continued growth of the sector and the benefits that come with it.
 
"The Department must produce a detailed timetable of their aims and how they are going to achieve them and then stick to their commitments. We cannot keep going round in circles, making little progress at the expense of growing our active travel offering and the positive health and environmental benefits that come from it. Moreover, key stakeholders must be included in the process to ensure user-friendly outcomes and that investment is targeted in the right areas to maintain growth."