To ask the Minister for Infrastructure for an update on the timescale for delivery of the proposed flood alleviation schemes in the North West.

My Department is developing a number of flood alleviation proposals for the North West. Proposed schemes for Drumahoe and Eglinton have been progressed to detailed design. However, the development of these proposals are complex and have required re-evaluation to determine if a viable solution can be found.

This re-evaluation continues and will also now include a review of the recent flooding to ensure that any proposals would be effective. It is hoped this re-evaluation will be completed by the end of 2022. Subject to the identification of a viable proposal the detailed design will be further developed, in conjunction with the environmental impact assessment, and I have asked my officials to progress this work as quickly as possible.

A further flood alleviation scheme is currently proposed for the Derry City area, mainly focusing on tidal flood risk. It is intended this project will progress to design in the coming months.

A feasibility study for Strabane is also on-going, which will assess the existing flood defences within Strabane. Meanwhile, works to construct a short term flood alleviation scheme at Ballycolman will now commence on site this month as soon as contractor resource becomes available.