To ask the Minister for Infrastructure what plans he has to introduce an enhanced flood warning system in Northern Ireland.

The need to provide information around possible flood warnings is becoming more important given the impacts of climate change. Whilst my Department believes that the North would benefit from an enhanced flood forecasting system, it is at present not currently funded to provide this service. Whilst there would be finance required to establish and maintain such a system, there are other factors to be considered to ensure that any flood forecasting system here reflects our unique river catchment status whilst building on the already well-established strong network of community resilience groups.

My officials have already had initial discussions with other organisations who have flood risk management responsibilities in Britain, and who have already developed their own forecasting systems, to ascertain if a similar approach could be developed for the North. This is at an early stage and is estimated that the costs would be approximately £2m per year with around three years to develop.

In the meantime, my Department will continue to work with multi-agency partners, including Local Government, to provide support to communities at risk of flooding and to help them prepare for, and to respond to all weather related emergencies.