Oral Answers to Questions — Agriculture and Rural Development – in the Northern Ireland Assembly at 2:45 pm on 12 October 2015.
2. Mr Sheehan asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development for an update on departmental flood alleviation schemes. (AQO 8838/11-16)
On behalf of the Department, Rivers Agency undertakes a prioritised programme of flood alleviation schemes across the North to protect people and property from flooding. In terms of significant projects, the Beragh flood alleviation scheme was completed this summer, and construction of a multi-million pound scheme is ongoing in east Belfast in partnership with Belfast City Council. A considerable number of small-scale improvement works are also being undertaken. Further construction work is planned in south Belfast later this year, alongside the ongoing preparatory work to bring a number of schemes to construction stage. I am pleased to advise that 290 homes and businesses benefited from enhanced flood protection in the last financial year as a result of flood alleviation schemes delivered by my Department, and a further 156 properties are expected to benefit in the current financial year.
Go raibh maith agat, a Phríomh-LeasCheann Comhairle. Buíochas leis an Aire as ucht a freagra. Will the Minister tell us what her Department is doing to engage with communities which may be at flood risk?
Rivers Agency staff are very proactive in engaging with communities. Where it is not possible to undertake a scheme, or where it will be some time before a scheme can be undertaken, the Department takes the lead in working with other responders to improve the community's resilience to flooding. That involves helping communities to develop their own emergency response plans.
The Minister is aware of the predicament of many householders, particularly in my constituency of South Belfast, who live under constant threat of flooding. Can she give an update on the household protection scheme, and give some assurance to people that they might still be eligible for that scheme, even if an alleviation scheme is planned for their area? In many cases, alleviation schemes will not begin to take effect for several years and people will have the threat of flooding hanging over them. There is a worry that they will not be eligible for the protection grants in the interim.
Yes, and I am happy to discuss that further with the Member. I brought forward the scheme for the reasons that I have said: sometimes, it is not possible to provide a community scheme that benefits everybody. This will help individuals to protect their own property, with the majority of the funding coming from the Department. From Rivers Agency, there will be around 90% grant funding. That is going to be very helpful. We hope to be able to launch the scheme, and provide all the details that the Member seeks clarity on, in November. At that time, we will be able to provide a lot more detail.
I want to make sure that the scheme is as inclusive as possible and that we help people who need help, particularly people who are waiting for schemes which may be two, three or four years down the pipeline. I will provide the Member with a more detailed analysis of who the scheme can protect and how to go about achieving funding. It is important that Rivers Agency provides that information, so that everybody knows what is there and how they can access it.
East Belfast has a large programme of flood-risk works being carried out, and I welcome the investment on the Knock, Loop and Connswater rivers. Can the Minister provide an update on the areas at risk from the tidal surge in January 2014 and how she believes that those areas have since been protected from future threats?
As I said in my original answer, we are working very hard. The east Belfast scheme has obviously been a very significant funding scheme for the Department. It is costing something in the region of £6 million. We are working in conjunction with Belfast City Council, which is in the lead on that project. So, work is ongoing. As I say, there has been a significant investment. Rivers Agency is very committed to making sure that it completes the scheme and protects all those people who are potentially at risk. As you said yourself, the threat that we had from tidal flooding was very significant and very scary for people who live in that area, so it is important that we get the scheme completed and that everybody is content with the protections that are put in place and afforded to all those people.