The SDLP's Justin McNulty asks the minister why there has been "zero funding in Covid budget allocation" given to her department.

Ms Mallon says, "to date, there hasn't been an allocation transferred across to the Infrastructure Department".

She says there has been £95m kept in the centre for a possible transport package, which she says will provide support for ferries, airports.

"Members will be aware issue facing Translink alone, so the remainder of the pot of money isn't sufficient to meet those financial pressures".

Image source, NI Assembly

Rosemary Barton of the UUP asks the minister about walkways that have been "neglected because of budgetary pressures" and whether she will look at reassessing these to make improvements.

Ms Mallon says "the reality is social distancing will be with us for a long time" and that the "work of the champion" will be "to link in with work already taking place".

She adds that her department will "try to do what we can" while operating within financial restraints.

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Alliance's Chris Lyttle returns to "active travel" outlined in the minister's statement, and says it's taken "over a year to fix obvious problems" in one of Belfast's cycle lanes.

The minister says the champion's role will be to pull out "what already exists".

She says she is "adamant to come back quickly" to members about "what we are practically delivering on this project".

"I am very committed to delivering on this," she adds.

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Sinn Féin's John O'Dowd raises the issue of furloughing and the length of time it has taken to be considered. He also asks "what preparations or investigations has the department taken to re-profile" its budget.

Nichola Mallon replies that the "minister for finance only raised the issue of furlough with me last week, or towards the tail end of it".

She says of re-profiling, "this is not a normal budgetary process or budgetary period," adding the "difficulty of my department is we have seen a dramatic reduction in revenue".

The minister adds that "nothing has come across to the department for infrastructure" from the Covid-19 budget to date.

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The DUP's Gordon Dunne asks about continued investment in roads - describing the congested main routes into Belfast.

The minister says maintenance of the road network is important and there has been under-investment in recent years.

She says she doesn't want Mr Dunne to think she is "completely dismissive" of the need to maintain the road network but she is very passionate about the "active travel agenda".

Image source, getty

Sinn Féin's Catherine Kelly asks for assurances that workers in areas such as roads maintenance, public transport and NI Water are confident of the safety of their workplace during the health crisis.

Referring to Translink, in particular, minister says "the safety of the public and our staff is paramount" and cough screens have been fitted in every bus.

Steps have also been taken regarding water and roads maintenance.

Sinn Féin's Liz Kimmins asks the minister about those who have planning applications that are "due to expire or are at risk of falling".

Ms Mallon says she is aware the member asked for the total number of planning applications that fall into this category, and says officials were due to write to her with these figures.

She says she was hopeful there would be some coverage of this issue in the Covid-19 Bill "as has happened in other places" but says there is a need for primary legislation.

The minister say that "does take time and will not help those facing imminent expiration of planning permission".

She says the "practical option facing them is either to renew, which will cost a fee of one quarter of the original fee" or to commence works.

Ms Mallon says those who choose to commence should be "mindful of case law" and ensure any work is in keeping with those guidelines.

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SDLP MLA Pat Catney asks the minister what hardship measures the executive is taking to help taxi drivers, adding he is aware the issue is not in the direct responsibility of minister.

Ms Mallon says she has "made representations to the minister for the economy" who she says is "trying to bring forward a range of support schemes" for a variety of businesses.

She says she is "hopeful the executive is in a position to provide financial support to those taxi drivers who have had" their livelihoods disrupted due to Covid-19.

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Martina Anderson of Sinn Féin wants an assurance that the haulage industry will be ready for the implementation of the Brexit protocol in eight months.

The minister says she she believes there is a recognition of the position of the haulage industry by the Westminster Department of Transport, given "our unique set of circumstances".

"We cannot lose sight that 31 December is hurtling towards us," she adds.

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The DUP's Thomas Buchanan asks about people who want to take their motorcycle test, pointing out that "it's a one-man, or one-woman vehicle".

He says that the safety clothing worn should make it safe from a virus perspective.

The minister says it's a very interesting point and she'll go back to her officials and see if it could be included as part of a plan for phased reintroduction of testing.

Alliance MLA Andrew Muir asks the minister how "radical" she is prepared to be in relation to the "inherited capital investment plan" relating to the York Street Interchange and Sydenham Bypass.

He also asks about "active travel" and the possibility of introducing a voucher scheme to help people with the "purchase of bicycles".

The minister responds, "we have seen in recent days an increase in volume of traffic" and that the NI Civil Service is "carrying out detailed analysis" of those journeys.

Turning to the York Street Interchange, she says it's included in the new Decade, New Approach deal and that a general principle, even going through this crisis, is "we shouldn't be afraid of looking at things creatively".

Ms Mallon says of the bike, that it is something she can "feed through to the champion and steering group to look at".

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The DUP's Keith Buchanan asks the minister about furloughing and how much could be saved, if any, by furloughing Translink staff.

The minister replies that "the finance minister did write to me and made the suggestion of furloughing Translink staff".

She says the "feasibility of that is being explored by Translink" but says her view is clear, that any such decision would need a full executive approach.

Ms Mallon goes on to highlight a number of "practical difficulties" and says the "furloughing scheme ends at the end of June" - "we're a number of weeks out from that".

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The SDLP's Dolores Kelly asks the minister for her views on moves in New Zealand (below) to get infrastructure products "shovel-ready" for when Covid-19 restrictions are lifted.

Ms Mallon says investment in infrastructure is a key multiplier for the construction industry.

She says she's asked officials to look at schemes to see that there is" a very clear environmental element to it".

Image source, Getty Images

The UUP's Roy Beggs welcomes the extension of TECs - but he wants to know if she has looked at other regulatory areas of her department, including bus licences and holders of international driving licences.

The minister says the crisis has thrown up a number of difficulties gives some examples of issues already addressed by the DVA including taxi PSV licences and medical licences.

Michelle McIlveen of the DUP, and who chairs the Infrastructure Committee asks the minister about medical assessments for haulier drivers, an issue which she says has "still not been resolved".

She also asks about the DVA online system for driving licence renewals and says some, without online access, are having their hard copy applications returned.

Ms Mallon says the executive is working on the issue of medical assessments and has been in "engaged on a regular basis" with the Department of Transport.

On the issue of contact with the DVA, the minister says she is aware there have been issues but says that's why a "single point of contact" was launched in terms of an email address.

The minister adds that she has a duty to those who are unable to access online applications but also to ensure the safety of DVA staff.

She says there are discussions about whether workers can be brought back on a "safe basis to be able to process those applications" and help those without online access.

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Sinn Féin's Cathal Boylan asks the minister about the announcement she made about a cycling champion.

He wants more detail on what programmes or projects will be adopted.

Ms Mallon responds that the current time "does present the opportunity to encourage and facilitate modal shift".

She outlines some practical projects, and says she hopes that a champion would identify "early, quick wins" which can then be built upon.

"I'm a believer that things shouldn't be done to communities, but with them," she says, adding any work would need to be "collaborative".

Image source, NI Assembly

The minister also wants to look forward to the future, learning lessons from the lockdown

"We know that less cars on the road reduces emissions," she says.

The minister says she has met representatives of the business and green sectors.

"We all share the belief that infrastructure spending will be crucial in restarting the economy," Ms Mallon says.

She says this could "kickstart the construction sector and its supply chain".

Image source, Getty Images

Ms Mallon says she is going to appoint "a walking and cycling champion" within her department.

She says she wants to extend pavements, pedestrianise streets and introduce "pop-up" cycle lanes.

The minister says she has already identified some suitable ares in Belfast and Derry city centre.

Ms Mallon goes on to say there will be an "automatic process for the issuing of TECs",which will apply from 11 May.

She says this will "reduce administration for customers and staff".

The minister adds that "customers will no longer have to book a test they will never have to attend" and then follow the process of seeking a refund a number of weeks later.

Image source, NI Assembly

She says "those vehicles that require a new TEC, or one for first time, will automatically be updated on DVA system and driver and vehicle system" so they can be taxed.

Ms Mallon adds that TECs will not be issued in a hard copy certificate, but that there will be designated part of the website that customers will be redirected to that they will be able to check.

She says, "unfortunately for vehicles registered in GB that have been brought to NI" they will have to contact the DVA for the process to be completed manually.

Next up is a statement from the minister for infrastructure.

In her opening remarks, Nichola Mallon says the Covid-19 crisis has been a "lonely time for many".

She moves to the issue of MOT testing and says her "department has worked hard to find a range of solutions for all type of vehicles".

Ms Mallon says MOT lifts will be replaced "by the start of July, unless MOT centres are needed for Covid-19 testing".

She says temporary exemption certificates (TEC's) have "been effective in keeping people on the road and ensuring vehicles can be taxed" but says she understands some are "coming to end and will need to be reviewed".

Image source, NI Assembly

The minister says "Covid-19 restrictions are likely to result in the suspension of most, if not all, MOT services for some time to come," adding when the test centres reopen there will "not be the capacity to test all cars that have missed out".

Ms Mallon says the DVA will continue to issue TECs to a variety of vehicles "until their normal MOT date exception for one year, which will bring it back into the system when there is capacity to test it".

She adds that the PSNI, DVA road-side enforcement and British insurers are aware of the situation and emphasises that these are "temporary arrangements" and that drivers "should maintain vehicles to appropriate standard".

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Deputy Principal Speaker Christopher Stalford opens business by expressing condolences to the friends and family of all those who have died as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

He then announces that the UUP's Mike Nesbitt has resigned from his position as deputy chairperson of the Committee for the Executive Office.

Mr Nesbitt's resignation follows a newspaper report that he had broken Covid-19 lockdown rules by visiting a friend on the north coast.

The first business of the day is a motion to suspend standing orders.

The TUV's Jim Allister rises to object to the motion, which would, without a debate, suspend ministerial question time for a further four weeks.

He says he believes this would be "a fundamental mistake".

The motion to suspend standing orders passes on an oral vote.

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Welcome to Tuesday’s live coverage from the Northern Ireland Assembly. We’ve got a packed agenda for today’s full plenary session.

There’s a big, chunky debate on the Budget for 2020-21, but we also have a statement from Minister for Infrastructure Nichola Mallon on Covid-19 and from the Minister for Education, Peter Weir, on the school enhancement programme.

The assembly meets at 10:30. Do stay with us.

Image source, Getty Images