To ask the Minister for Infrastructure whether NI Water will work with external agencies to regenerate areas of its land affected by fires.

The management of the regeneration of land effected by fires is an operational matter for NI Water; however, I have requested advice from NI Water. It has advised that the NI Water Catchment Management and Water Supply teams have been working with Mourne Heritage Trust (MHT) for over 15 years on habitat and erosion management in its drinking water catchments in the Mournes. Since April 2023 it has been a core partner in the Forever Mournes partnership with MHT, National Trust and Woodland Trust NI.

NI Water highlight that it is also a contributor to the current Eastern Mournes Special Area of Conservation (SAC) Management Plan and also consults with Newry Mourne and Down District Council under the Mourne Gullion Geopark management programme.

For any future queries relating to operational matters, you should contact NI Water directly, through the Elected Representatives Hotline on 0345 300 6461 or through waterline@niwater.com . Making direct contact with NI Water will ensure that you receive the information in the shortest possible timeframe and make best use of limited public resources.