Review of water and sewerage services

Regional Devlopment Minister, Conor Murphy, has announced today that Professor Paddy Hillyard will chair the independent review panel to consider the future of water and sewerage services.

Ministers of the local Assembly met yesterday to discuss the best plan of action after severe flooding caused havoc across parts of Northern Ireland on Tuesday.

The Fire and Rescue Service responded to more than 400 emergency calls while NI Water took almost 2,000 calls and nearly 40 people had to be rescued from their homes and cars.

Belfast and Omagh, County Tyrone were among the worst hit areas. Connswater Shopping Centre in east Belfast was flooded, with reports that water poured through ceiling vents, forcing members of the public to be evacuated.

A major clean-up operation began yesterday to help residents who were particularly affected by the floods.

Panel members will comprise of Joan Whiteside and Charles Coulthard. An additional appointment may be considered.

Since January 2000 Professor Hillyard has held the chair of sociology at Queen’s University, Belfast. Previously, he has worked in the University of Ulster and in 1979 began at University of Bristol. Following the establishment of the new School of Policy Studies in 1995, he became Director of the Centre for Research on Social Exclusion and Social Justice. Professor Hillyard moved back to Ireland in 1999 and took up the Chair in Social Policy at the University of Ulster.

(JM/KMcA)