I rise to speak about the dire state of our waste water infrastructure. Over the past few weeks, we have seen a number of reports on the devastating impact that our inadequate waste water infrastructure has on our environment, on housebuilding, on public health and on the wider economy. I will highlight two examples

Last Wednesday, we heard about the catastrophic pollution affecting bathing waters in Newcastle, along with many other areas along our coast. In 2023, the 80 monitored storm overflows were recorded to have discharged in total for more hours than there are in a year. Those are only the monitored storm overflows, of which there are 2,400, so the actual picture could be much worse. Our waste water infrastructure is not up to standard. It just cannot cope, and our rivers, lakes and sea are paying the price. Such spills are supposed to be exceptional, but they are de facto the norm now. Those revelations came just days after the Office for Environmental Protection published its report on the unsatisfactory state of water quality in Northern Ireland.

Secondly, a few weeks ago, we learned that the development of nearly 20,000 properties has practically ground to a halt in 23 cities, towns and villages across Northern Ireland, because the waste water system is at capacity. That impacts homes, schools, medical facilities and businesses. It is terrible news for the many people who are looking for a home, for our economy and for all of us who are suffering from the squeeze on our education and health systems.

The root cause of the crisis lies in Northern Ireland Water's funding model. It cannot borrow to invest, and it has been left with the price control for 2021-27, which is not fully funded. The impact of that on our environmental, economic, ecological and public health is intolerable. The substantial infrastructure works that are needed to address the huge problems that we see now are difficult to plan and fund in those conditions. Unfortunately, the result is not just a standstill but deterioration.

While Alliance is clear that we do not support privatisation or new water charges, NI Water's funding model is unsustainable and unfit for purpose. Alliance wants to see a plan of action from the Minister, advised by the Fiscal Council, that will deliver desperately needed investment, and one option will be to explore mutualisation so that NI Water can borrow to invest. I will continue to work with those who want to develop solutions to the problems, and I look forward to further correspondence with the Department on these matters.