Debate contribution: Water Infrastructure
Debate contribution by Mr John O'Dowd on .
- MLA
- Mr John O'Dowd
- Party at the time
- Sinn Féin
- Date
- 5 March 2024
- Type
- Debate contribution (made as a minister)
- Business
- Oral Answers to Questions
- Heading
- Water Infrastructure
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 4252606
Read the official Assembly record
Text
I thank the Member for his question. Sorry, Mr Speaker. I am trying out a new device today. With your permission, Mr Speaker, I will answer questions 2 and 11 together. The Utility Regulator’s price control final determination, known as PC21, recommends a capital investment of £2·1 billion in water and waste-water services in the period spanning 2021-22 to 2026-27. That figure includes over £1 billion being invested in waste-water assets. My Department has fully funded NI Water for the first three years of the price control and has provided circa £90 million of additional capital funding over and above the funding level recommended in PC21 during that period. NI Water recently submitted to the Department its 2024-25 operating plan and budget. The Department is currently assessing that plan. At present, the Utility Regulator is undertaking a mid-term review to determine the investment levels required for the remaining three years of the price control period. The Department awaits the outcome of that mid-term review. However, funding the investment requirement identified by the Utility Regulator will be subject to the challenging, constrained financial situation going forward.
185 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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