Northern Ireland Water (NIW) is this month being asked to explain how a shortfall in its projected revenues came about. A Stormont Committee is also speaking to officials from the Department for Regional Development (DRD). The shortfall, thought to be around £20 million a year, could lead to higher than expected household water bills.
The Regional Development Committee are currently trying to find out exactly who is to blame for the miscalculation, which was made public a few weeks ago. They are also considering a number of options, which include:
The DRD is unlikely to escape part of the blame, as they were responsible for water and sewerage services before the creation of NIW last year, with officials admitting that poor quality information had been given to NIW when it was set up.
In what has been a bad month for the DRD, it has also emerged that they have spent in excess of £180,000 on bottled water over three years. As a result, Environment Minister Arlene Foster has ordered an end to office water coolers and the DRD are phasing out the provision of bottled water.
