Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister for Infrastructure, pursuant to AQW 23592/22-27, to detail the number of cases of alleged fraud within NI Water that have investigated by Internal Audit in each of the last five years; and, of those cases, to detail (i) the number of disciplinary actions that have been taken; and (ii) the number of cases that have been referred for further investigation, including to whom they have been referred.
Minister for Infrastructure: The issue you have raised is an operational matter for NI Water; however, I have sought the required information.
Pursuant to AQW 23592/22-27, NI Water has advised that there have been 5 cases of alleged fraud in the last 5 years, which have been specifically investigated by Internal Audit as follows:
| Year | Number of cases | Number of Disciplinary actions that have been taken | Number of cases referred for further investigation |
| 2019/20 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020/21 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021/22 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022/23 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023/24 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 5 | 0 | 0 |
Please note that suspected water fraud cases, including unauthorised connections to NI Water’s infrastructure, meter tampering and other suspected breaches of legislation, are dealt with by the NI Water Compliance Investigation Team (CIT) and not Internal Audit.
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.
ENDS
Your MLA 