Northern Ireland government earmarks water network funding in line with regulator's price controls

Northern Ireland’s infrastructure minister, Nichola Mallon, has allocated £344.5m funding to Northern Ireland Water over the current financial year as part of her 2021/22 budget.

This allocation, for essential water and sewerage services, is in line with the publicly-owned company’s latest price control as set by its economic regulator.

Northern Ireland Water’s chief executive, Sara Venning, welcomed the announcement that funding for year one of its current business plan had been secured. ”We see this positive funding position at the outset of the six-year programme as a statement of intent and look forward to the necessary funding being put in place until 2027,” she said.

Northern Ireland’s water supply and sewerage infrastructure has suffered from chronic under-investment in the past. Currently there are a significant number of areas, including in the capital, Belfast, where new development cannot proceed because of water supply and wastewater treatment issues.