Debate contribution: Sewage Overflow: Derrybeg, Newry
Debate contribution by Ms Liz Kimmins on .
- MLA
- Ms Liz Kimmins
- Party at the time
- Sinn Féin
- Date
- 22 September 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution (made as a minister)
- Business
- Oral Answers to Questions
- Heading
- Sewage Overflow: Derrybeg, Newry
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5739728
Read the official Assembly record
Text
The Member will know that the work I continue to do with all partners has targeted investment where it is most needed, and we saw the result of that in the additional houses that we were able to have built that had not initially been planned. We have seen over 4,500 additional houses being built in the past 18 months because of the unlocked capacity. The challenges are huge, and the Member is fully aware of the rationale behind that. We are in a Budget negotiation, and I have made it very clear to the British Secretary of State that it is an issue that cannot be ignored. We need the funding to deliver waste water infrastructure that is fit for purpose because none of our other priorities can be addressed without that. However, as a member of the Infrastructure Committee and as an engineer, the Member will also know that NI Water has the operational responsibility to identify the areas of need, not the Minister. However, I will continue to work with NI Water to ensure that we continue to deliver and make progress. I will certainly continue to stand up for people here to get the investment that we need to do that.
205 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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