AQW 28932/22-27

Mr Andrew McMurray
Alliance Party
South Down

Tabled Date: 18/06/2025
Answered On Date: 02/07/2025
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Infrastructure whether she will consider increasing the cap or reducing the homeowner contribution for works carried out under the Homeowner Flood Protection Grant Scheme.

Answer:

My Department’s Homeowner Flood Protection Grant Scheme is aimed specifically at residential properties that have flooded internally and remain vulnerable to frequent flooding.

The original financial thresholds of the grant scheme covered 90% of the costs, up to a maximum of £10,000, of the total survey and estimated installation costs and had not changed since the scheme was launched in 2016. The homeowner is also required to contribute 10% of the survey and estimated installation costs and any additional cost that may be incurred above £10,000.

I had recently requested my officials to carry out a review of this financial threshold to take account of any inflationary increases since 2016 to the present day using the Consumer Price Index (CPIH) rate, which includes owner occupied housing costs. I am pleased to advise that I have recently approved the increase of the financial threshold for the scheme from the original £10,000 to a new £13,700 threshold. This came into effect from 01 April 2025, and it is proposed that similar inflationary uplifts are considered across future financial years. The homeowner will still be required to contribute 10% of the survey and estimated installation costs and any additional cost that may be incurred above the £13,700 threshold.