AQW 21698/22-27

Mr John Blair
Alliance Party
South Antrim

Tabled Date: 31/01/2025
Answered On Date: 17/02/2025
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Infrastructure for an update on the 6-Year Rivers Strategy in the context of his Department’s response to climate change.

Answer:

My Departments approach to flood risk climate change adaption is already encapsulated in the 2021-2027 Flood Risk Management Plan (FRMP), which is required by the Water Environment (Floods Directive) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009. The FRMP is an interdepartmental approach to managing flood risk here. It sets the objectives and measures to manage flood risk at known areas of significant risk and more widely on a regional basis.

In terms of our existing infrastructure the Rivers Asset Management Plan (AMP) 2020 – 2030 is another key strategic document to drive our flood risk climate change adaption work.

Subsequently, the 6 Year Strategy was developed in order to provide focus and direction, to enable the implementation of the Flood Risk Management Plan (FRMP) and the Asset Management Plan.

Work is already complete in 30 of the main activities including work in relation to the review of capital investment requirements and identification of the delivery teams needed to successfully deliver flood risk management activities.