To ask the Minister for Regional Development for an update on the progress of the East Belfast Drainage Area Study and Plan; and when he anticipates that the Drainage Area Plan will be finalised.

I have been advised by Northern Ireland Water that the flooding that affected Eastleigh Dale in June 2007 and August 2008 was caused by extreme levels of rainfall which overwhelmed the drainage system in parts of the North. The flooding was compounded by rainfall causing surcharging of rivers and watercourses to which the drainage would normally discharge. It was widely acknowledged that no sewerage system could have coped with the intensity of the rainfall.

The ongoing Drainage Area Study of the East Belfast sewer network will assess the adequacy of the sewerage system in the area and identify any parts that need to be upgraded. The Study is expected to be completed in late 2009 after which a Drainage Area Plan (DAP) incorporating any improvements recommended by the Study, will be developed. Completion will take a further 6-9 months and the planned improvement works will subsequently be included in Northern Ireland Water’s capital works programme. Implementation of proposals within the plan will be dependent on available funding.

Pending the outcome of the DAP, Northern Ireland Water will continue to monitor and maintain the public sewer network and take all practicable steps to reduce the risk of future flooding. Regrettably, whatever measures are implemented, it will not be possible to guarantee that flooding caused by exceptional weather conditions such as occurred in June 2007 and August 2008 will not recur.