To ask the Minister for Infrastructure, pursuant to AQW 13248/17-22, (i) how much resource and capital funding does NI Water require to embark on PC21 in 2021/22; and (ii) how much has been made available in the draft budget.

The Utility Regulator’s PC21 Draft Determination sets out a budget requirement for NI Water of some £220m capital DEL and £120m resource DEL. NI Water’s 6 year PC21 business plan is currently being scrutinised by the Utility Regulator who will conclude NI Water’s funding requirements for the 6 year period 2021 – 2027 in its Final Determination, which I am advised will now not be published until mid-May 2021.

The draft 2021-22 Resource Budget allocation for my Department is challenging. I have not yet taken any decisions on how the draft 2021-22 Resource Budget would be allocated. However such decisions are likely to be very difficult and could impact on the ability of NI Water to deliver the essential water and wastewater services that we all rely on for our health, to provide capacity for housing development, to protect our environment and to stimulate the economic recovery from Covid-19.

The draft 2021-22 Capital Budget allocation is more positive, but additional capital investment requires an adequate level of resource budget in order to support the increased scale of activity and effort required.