To ask the Minister for Infrastructure whether his Department has made an initial assessment of the impact developer contributions will have on wastewater system capacity.

Mr O'Dowd

I recognise the current waste water capacity challenges and am taking a three-pronged approach to the matter. First, I continue to work with my Executive colleagues to ensure appropriate investment for NI Water. Secondly, I am introducing new legislation on sustainable urban drainage, which will help to store storm water so that it releases more slowly into the waste water network. Thirdly, I have asked my officials to examine the legislative change required to introduce developer contributions. The impact of developer contributions will be fully assessed through the stakeholder engagement and consultation. In the meantime, I encourage developers to engage earlier with NI Water, through its pre-development enquiry process, to identify solutions, where they exist.

Mr O'Dowd

As I said in my answer, that will require legislative change, and part of that change will involve a consultation process where views can be aired and taken on board, whether from the point of view of the developer, the house purchaser or whoever it may be. The House will have to vote on the legislation. There are a number of steps to be taken — accountability measures will be built into those steps — before any final decisions are made.

Mr Baker

What current obstacles are preventing developers from contributing financially to NI Water in order to facilitate development?

Mr O'Dowd

The current obstacle is the legislation that we have available to us, which does not allow us to take contributions from developers in order to pay directly towards waste water treatment works. It is common practice that developers will pay for the separation of storm water and sewage and foul waste but, at the moment, we cannot allow for contributions to be taken from developers for the purpose of waste water treatment works.

Mrs Erskine

Developers are saying that they already contribute. We have a number of unadopted sites in Northern Ireland, yet developers say that they have contributed in some way. Is the Minister working on anything to try to combat that?

Mr O'Dowd

The Member will be aware that developers pay a bond towards roads and other public services maintenance in areas. Before any bond is used to complete a site, however, I believe that it is only right and proper that my officials explore to the nth degree why a developer cannot do that themselves. In itself, the bond is very rarely sufficient to complete the site. It is only right and proper that when we come across those challenges, my officials engage with the developer to challenge them to complete the site, rather than dipping into the public purse.

Mr McGlone

Has the Minister engaged with the Minister for Communities regarding the cost consequences of this proposal and its potential negative cost impact on the provision of social housing?

Mr O'Dowd

I have not engaged directly with the Communities Minister at this stage. As I said to one of your colleagues, however, we are at the start of this process rather than at the end of it. It will require legislative change, and consultation takes place, as part of any legislative journey, with fellow Ministers, other key stakeholders and the general public.

Mr Speaker

Questions 4 and 5 have been withdrawn.