Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister for Infrastructure to detail the the number of allegations of fraud that NI Water was made aware of in each of the last five years, broken down by the dates on which (i) NI Water was made aware of each allegation; (ii) the PSNI was notified of each allegation; (iii) her Department was notified of each allegation; and (iv) the actions taken by her Department on each of those occasions.
Minister for Infrastructure: This is an operational matter for NI Water however my officials have sought the relevant information.
NI Water has advised the requested figures are as follows:
| Year | No of Cases | (i) | (ii)* | (iii) |
| 2020-21 | 4 | 27 May 2020 | n/a | 7 May 2021 |
| 31 July 2020 | n/a | 7 May 2021 | ||
| 27 August 2020 | n/a | n/a | ||
| 10 September 2020 | n/a | n/a | ||
| 2021-22 | 2 | 18 May 2021 | n/a | 18 May 2021 |
| 25 August 2021 | n/a | 25 August 2021 | ||
| 2022-23 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| 2023-24 | 2 | 14 September 2023 | 14 September 2023 | 20 September 2023 |
| 8 February 2024 | n/a | 15 April 2024 | ||
| 2024-25 | 3 | 12 April 2024 | 9 August 2024 | 14 June 2024 |
| 23 January 2025 | 28 July 2025 | 30 January 2025 | ||
| 15 November 2024 | n/a | 22 November 2024 | ||
| Total | 11 |
*The action of notifying PSNI is considered in line with NI Water’s Fraud Prevention Policy and Response Plan. Cases are assessed on a case-by-case basis and in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding between the NI Public Sector and PSNI.
(iv) my Department processes the notifications in line with the procedures outlined in the Department’s Anti-Fraud Policy and Fraud Response Plan. The Department also advises the Comptroller & Auditor General at the NI Audit Office and informs the Department of Finance’s Accountability and Financial Management Division.
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 