Northern Ireland Water lobbies the new executive for urgent economic help

Northern Ireland Water was hoping for an early meeting with Northern Ireland’s newly installed infrastructure minister John O'Dowd this week to press for urgent help to counter crumbling infrastructure and parlous  finances.

Veteran Sinn Féin member for the Upper Bann area, O'Dowd was named over the weekend as the politician responsible for the publicly-owned company as well as a brief which include planning and public transport. A functioning executive  has returned to Stormont after a hiatus of two years.

Northern Ireland Water has insisted that “Northern Ireland needs sustained critical infrastructure investment to protect public health, enhance the environment and underpin economic growth.

“Without investment in critical water infrastructure across Northern Ireland, it will not be possible to deliver other priorities in areas such as housing, city deals or developing our tourism sector. 

“Put simply, building will halt, a situation already being realised in over 100 towns and villages where NI Water has had to recommend development is refused due to no capacity in our sewer network and to protect the environment.

“Additionally, recent potential budget reductions of approximately £900 million over the next 3 years will further severely restrict progress in these areas” warned the company.

Northern Ireland Water is hoping that some of the £3.3 billion financial package provided by the UK government  to buttress the return of a functioning  executive will  go in its direction.  However, how much if any  ends up on the water utility’s  books is unclear at this juncture.

Well over half that package of UK government  aid has already been promised to meet public sector pay deals and measures to stabilise the woeful state of other  public services  in Northern Ireland.

The UK government has consulted on whether domestic water charges should be introduced in a bid to improve Northern Ireland Water’s finances but such a move would requires a decision  by the new Northern Ireland Executive  and would be politically fraught.

Meanwhile, the Northern Ireland Audit Office has completed a detailed review of the funding and governance of the water company’s infrastructure assets. This should be published shortly.

O’Dowd was caretaker infrastructure minister for a short period before Stormont shut down in 2022.  He is well aware of  the company’s financial woes.

He is on the record as saying: "Northern Ireland Water like many public services is currently experiencing many challenges as it deals with the cost of living crisis and the rise in energy costs. It is essential that the appropriate level of funding is provided to Northern Ireland Water to ensure that it continues to provide  a valuable public service not just for households but also for hospitals, schools and businesses.”