To ask the Minister for Infrastructure to detail (i) the number of potholes filled by his Department at the junction of Gallywally Avenue and Saintfield Road, South Belfast, in the last 12 months; and (ii) his assessment of the longevity of the repairs carried out at this location.

My officials have advised that in the last 12 months 33 actionable carriageway defects have been noted along the A24 Ormeau Road /Saintfield Road from the roundabout at the Ravenhill Road/Ormeau Road junction to the junction with the A55 Upper Knockbreda Road. All 33 carriageway defects have been repaired.

The longevity of pothole repairs largely depends on the repair method and materials used. Temporary fixes like cold patching may have less durability, especially in areas with heavy traffic or when repaired during inclement weather. Permanent repairs, using hot mix asphalt can extend the lifespan of the repair to several years, offering a more durable solution. My Department’s aim is to carry out first time repairs using hot mix asphalt to provide a permanent repair and avoid unnecessary and repeat visits to the one location. All permanent repairs retain a one-year warranty period under the terms of the contract.

Resurfacing schemes are funded through my Department’s Structural Maintenance Programme; regrettably, for some time the available investment has not kept pace with what is needed to maintain all our roads in a reasonable condition.

While there are many roads that would benefit from investment, due to limited budget resources resurfacing work is taken forward through the prioritisation of those deemed most in need of intervention. A resurfacing scheme on the A24 Ormeau Road/Saintfield Road (between its junction with the Ormeau Road/Ravenhill Road roundabout and Drumkeen Manor) has been identified for inclusion in the 2025/26 resurfacing programme, subject to the availability of the necessary financial resource.