McMurray says Infrastructure Committee to hear Flood Management evidence in Downpatrick
The NI Assembly’s Committee for Infrastructure will be visiting Downpatrick on Wednesday, 18 March 2026, to hear from business representatives and resident groups about flood prevention and recovery.
It comes as the Committee is scrutinizing the Water, Sustainable Drainage, and Flood Management Bill. Downpatrick Regeneration Group and Newcastle Regional Community Resilience Group have been invited to give evidence.
The Bill aims to reduce water pollution; strengthen flood resilience; promote sustainable drainage; and improve water resource management.
It is largely an enabling bill – which means that its main purpose is to give the DfI and NI Water powers to do certain things in the future that they currently lack the powers to do.
Key areas of concern to communities affected by flooding relate to the regulation of sustainable drainage systems and the future of domestic flood protection grants, such as the current Homeowner Flood Protection Grant pilot scheme.
South Down MLA Andrew McMurray, who sits on the Infrastructure Committee, said: “This is an important Bill, which could have a real impact on local businesses and residents in the future.
“It is important that we get it right and the Committee wants to hear from those who have first-hand experience of flooding and of the existing flood protection grant.
“While this is a fairly technical Bill, more detailed and practical regulations will follow in its wake.
“The Committee will therefore be interested to hear people’s wider views about the policy areas that are supported by this Bill and what these might and should look like in practice.
“As the local MLA, I welcome this opportunity for both community groups to share their concerns with the Committee and I would encourage them to raise any aspects of the Bill that they feel should be changed or taken into account when drafting the detailed regulations for its implementation.”
