T2. Mr Bradley asked the Minister for Infrastructure what discussions his Department has had with NI Water to address the sewerage capacity issues across East Londonderry. (AQT 382/22-27)

I have had no specific conversations with NI Water about the Member's constituency, but I have had conversations with NI Water about how it faces the challenges of a budget that does not meet its immediate needs. We all accept that NI Water and other public bodies need more finance, but this is one of the areas where we will have to give leadership rather than say, "It is all terrible. There is nothing that we can do". I am confident that NI Water will do everything that is in its power to continue to deliver front-line services and to try to advance our waste water treatment works across all constituencies in a very restricted budgetary period. I will work with it in doing that. I will also work with my Executive colleagues to secure more funding for NI Water, Translink and, indeed, my Department. However, I do not intend to bury my head in the sand and say, "It is all terrible. It is all awful. We cannot do anything". My attitude to the current financial crisis is that we should work together, work with the Finance Minister, work collectively around the Executive table and seek solutions.

I thank the Minister for his answer. The reality, Minister, is that the lack of infrastructure right across Northern Ireland — in East Londonderry in particular — is stopping the development of social housing and private housing. It is an emergency situation, as, I am sure, you are well aware.

If you do not have the capacity to invest in your public services, there will be an impact. That is just reality, but I will say this: each application must be judged on its merits. NI Water will have to make decisions on whether it can provide the waste water treatment services that a new development requires. If it cannot, can it work in conjunction with the developer to provide the services that are required, or can the developer provide those services on its own? We will have to do things differently moving forward. The other choice is to do nothing, and I do not think that that is a choice. Let us do things differently and find solutions to the problems that we face.