Watchdog urges sustainable funding model for Northern Ireland Water

Northern Ireland’s public expenditure watchdog has urged the government department responsible for Northern Ireland Water to develop a sustainable funding model after highlighting chronic underfunding of the state-owned company.

Comptroller and Auditor General, Kieran Donnelly, warned that funding levels for water and wastewater services had fallen below the required levels determined by the utility regulator.

He stressed that having the right drinking water and sewerage infrastructure was essential to enable development and economic growth and required a sustainable long-term funding model.

Donnelly acknowledged that the Northern Ireland Executive had recognised the need for urgent investment in infrastructure, which is at, or near, capacity in many places across the province. HIs warning came in his latest annual audit of the Department for Infrastructure.

He noted that the requisite level of funding for Northern Ireland Water had been made available for the current financial year but insisted “there remained a lack of clarity on the position for future years”.