To ask the Minister for Infrastructure whether she will review NI Water’s priorities to add housing as a key consideration for how and where investment is spent.

In October monitoring, NI Water received £32m, of which £19.5m has been used to successfully unlock capacity for 2,300 properties across Antrim, Derry and Tyrone.

I plan to continue that focus on unlocking capacity and can advise that my officials are working collaboratively with colleagues in DAERA and DfC to contribute to the aims and objectives of the Executive’s Housing Supply Strategy.

I will also continue to develop the three-pronged approach that is already in place. Firstly, working with Executive colleagues to ensure appropriate investment for NI Water, secondly, bringing forward new legislation in relation to sustainable drainage systems (SuDS), which will help to store stormwater so that it releases slower into the wastewater network and thirdly, officials are examining the legislative change required to bring forward developer contributions with a view to consulting on the proposals in March 2025.