Debate contribution: NI Water Challenges

Debate contribution by Mr Stephen Dunne on 8 April 2024.

MLA

Mr Stephen Dunne

Party at the time

Democratic Unionist Party

Date

8 April 2024

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Private Members' Business

Heading

NI Water Challenges

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4481657

Read the official Assembly record

Text

As a member of the Infrastructure Committee and an MLA, I, like many others, am all too well aware of the serious issues and challenges that face the water infrastructure network in every part of our country. Economic growth and prosperity depends on us having a water and sewerage network that is fit for purpose for today and for the future. As has been mentioned, it is important to highlight at the outset that this is not a new issue; I think that most people here know that. Indeed, towards the end of the previous mandate, my party colleagues tabled a motion calling for a new strategy to enhance and expand our water and sewerage infrastructure network. The recent Audit Office report on water infrastructure in Northern Ireland, which was published at the end of last month, highlights a number of key, important, stark and timely warnings for us all. The comments from the Comptroller and Auditor General on the report, in which she states that:

"A very real consequence of this underinvestment is that there are many areas in Northern Ireland where new development, including the construction of homes and other buildings, is restricted due to insufficient capacity to connect to sewage and wastewater services."

accurately summarise the situation that we find ourselves in. There is no doubt that the running failure to address the underinvestment is severely hampering economic development and housebuilding in every corner of Northern Ireland. It is alarming that development in 100 areas, including 25 cities and towns, has been restricted due to the insufficient capacity to connect sewerage and waste water, something that we are all very aware of. Indeed, every month that passes without a sustainable approach to meeting the current demand for connection to the network leads to further missed opportunities for the future, including opportunities to support business expansion, grow our economy and boost employment. That boost is greatly needed today, more than ever, and includes employment in our construction and aggregate sectors.

Opportunities are also being missed to provide new housing for those in great need of it. Indeed, just last month, a report highlighted that there are more than 46,000 households on the waiting list for a permanent home. That is a stark reminder of the need for action as we seek to develop new homes right across Northern Ireland and address our housing shortage. Even very modest domestic extensions or small-business and microbusiness adaptations can face very lengthy and costly delays or even refusals, stifling economic growth, investment and prosperity. That extends to major housing developments and the commercial sector, including new hotel builds, which are crucial to growing and developing our tourism sector. Over the past 10 years, I have seen very welcome central investment by NI Water in the Kinnegar waste water treatment works in my constituency. I welcome the planned extensive upgrade of Kinnegar waste water treatment works that was recently announced — the Minister commented on that — and the planned construction of a new waste water pumping station in Sydenham, which is quite close to the boundary of my constituency. The Audit Office report spells out very clearly that ongoing leakage from water pipes and sewers is contributing to pollution in our rivers and lakes. A number of other Members have also commented on that. The chief executive of NI Water, Sara Venning, recently told the Infrastructure Committee that we have more overflows, per head of population and kilometre of pipe, than the rest of the United Kingdom. From an environmental, socioeconomic and health perspective, that is a damning indictment that must be grappled with and action taken on. The Audit Office report goes on to talk critically about the outdated oversight arrangements. It is extremely frustrating that, eight years after the start of major reform between the NIEA and NI Water, revised waste water compliance assessment arrangements have still not been implemented. The Minister urgently needs to complete a comprehensive review and action plan of reform to secure appropriate finance and to invest in our water infrastructure, rather than simply repeating the mistakes and excuses of his predecessors in kicking the can down the road in the hope of avoiding difficult decisions.

700 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

Not qualifying

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 09:58 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

Disagree with this assessment?

Classifications can be challenged. A person reads every challenge, and any change is recorded publicly above with its reason.

Challenge this classification