Collaboration is the key to improve waste-water infrastructure – Kimmins and O’Dowd
Date published:
The Infrastructure and Finance Ministers have said that collaboration is the key to improving waste-water infrastructure.
Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins and Finance Minister John O’Dowd were speaking following a meeting with members of the NI Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Construction Employers Federation and NI Federation of Housing Associations.
Minister Kimmins said:
“I am grateful to the NI Chamber, Construction Employers Federation and the NI Federation of Housing Associations for meeting with us today. While funding for essential services remains an ongoing challenge, I am determined to work in collaboration with all partners and to seek new ways of working to bring about positive change for all in the delivery of water and wastewater infrastructure. I will also continue to work with Executive colleagues to try and increase wastewater investment.
“In the October monitoring round NI Water was allocated £19.5m, to unlock wastewater capacity enabling 2,300 new homes to be built and connected in Antrim, Derry and Tyrone. Overall NI Water has received around £0.5 billion allocation for this financial year, which is just under 40% of the total non-ring-fenced budget available for my entire Department. I will shortly be consulting on the feasibility of developers being able to make additional funding contributions and I will be introducing the Water, Flooding and Sustainable Drainage Bill to the Assembly.
"I absolutely want to see improvement in the delivery of waste-water infrastructure to facilitate housing growth, economic development and improve water quality.”
Minister O’Dowd said:
“I welcome today’s meeting on wastewater funding and the need for wider infrastructure investment. As previous Infrastructure Minister I fully understand there is a significant investment needed across infrastructure. Investment in our infrastructure is vital in helping to unlock prosperity, increase investment and grow our housing supply.
“The increased funding allocated in the draft Budget to the Department for Infrastructure is recognition of the need to invest in infrastructure and in water infrastructure. I am fully committed to working together with all Ministerial colleagues to ensure the delivery of a balanced budget and sufficient funding for our public services.”
Notes to editors:
- Photo Caption: Minister O'Dowd and Minister Kimmins are pictured with Mark Spence from Construction Employers Federation, Seamus Leheny from NI Federation of Housing Associations and Suzanne Wylie from the NI Chamber of Industry and Commerce.
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