To ask the Minister for Infrastructure, in relation to the multi-agency review of the autumn flooding in the south east, whether there are any interim arrangements apparent in the draft report that can be acted upon immediately in order to ameliorate any future flooding incident.

The final report on the multi- agency review of Autumn flooding in the South East will be published in July 2024.

Some of the measures evident from the report, and from the open day feedback, are around communication in respect of flood reporting, insurance, financial assistance and working with communities in areas of flood risk. My Department, along with other multi-agency partners, will seek to address those areas of work which can be acted upon reasonably quickly. In addition, my Department, as the Lead Government Department for the strategic co-ordination of the emergency response to significant flooding, will continue to work with partner organisations to ensure that so far as possible pre-planned arrangements are in place to help mitigate against any future flooding events.

Considerations around the release of the report later this month to NI Executive colleagues and the wider presentation and communication of this report are ongoing.

The joint flooding review group are currently working to establish governance and responsibility for delivery of the recommendations in the report, so I am unable to provide specific information on the detail you request at this time.