To ask the Minister for Infrastructure (i) for his assessment of how wastewater limits are preventing the opening of new businesses in town centres; (ii) whether the Department or local council’s understanding of the wastewater situation in the area is, or can be, shared with the applicant prior to them paying for a wastewater impact assessment; and (iii) to detail the difference in cost between private and NI Water wastewater impact assessments.

The issues you raised are operational matters for NI Water. You should therefore direct your question to NI Water, through the Elected Representatives Hotline on 0345 300 6461 or through waterline@niwater.com.

In terms of my Department’s responsibilities, I can advise that NI Water has received substantial allocations of public money during the current and previous Price Control periods, to enable it to deliver on water and wastewater services for all areas across the North.

Like all public services, NI Water is facing challenges, but as demonstrated by the figures below, it has received significant public investment in recent years, and indeed in 2023-24 it was provided with the highest levels of capital budget allocated to the company to date to enable it to keep delivering essential improvements.