AQW 18962/22-27
Mr Peter McReynolds
Alliance Party
East Belfast
Tabled Date: 28/11/2024
Answered On Date: 03/12/2024
Priority Written: Yes
Question:
To ask the Minister for Infrastructure (i) when he first read the Story of Belfast Lough document; and (ii) for his assessment of it.
Answer:
The ‘Story of Belfast Lough’ document was brought to my attention by my officials following its publication on NI Water’s website. The significant water quality issues highlighted have been known for some time and were identified in my Department’s Living With Water in Belfast Plan, which was published in November 2021 following Executive endorsement. The document outlines some of the further work funded by my Department through this Plan since 2021, including integrated environmental modelling to inform the future design standards for the upgrades needed to the wastewater treatment works that discharge into Belfast Lough. It was always acknowledged that additional funding would be required to deliver all aspects of the Belfast Plan within the original 12-year timeframe. In the New Decade New Approach agreement, published in January 2020, Living With Water was identified as a beneficiary of increased funding, however, this was not received. In 2023, NI Water also increased the cost estimate of its elements of the Belfast Plan by £700 million, pushing the overall costs from £1.4 to £2.1 billion. An affordability review conducted by my Department in response to this increase has concluded that the need for the Belfast Plan continues to exist, however, without the necessary budget, its original timescale is no longer achievable. Delivery of the projects in the Belfast Plan will therefore be taken forward by my Department and NI Water as normal business at a scale and pace achievable within available budgets. In this financial year, I have provided NI Water with c£0.5billion funding, however, I will continue to make the case for additional funding for water and wastewater services.
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