An emergency meeting of the Northern Ireland Executive of ministers is being held today at Stormont.
Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness and First Minister Peter Robinson have criticised Northern Ireland Water’s performance.
Scotland has donated thousands of litres of bottled water as many households have been without water for days. Thawing conditions following the severe cold spell were initially linked to the bursts but now attention is turning to the history of under-investment in the water pipes.
NIW has been engaged in an extensive programme of capital works but the entire government at Stormont faces spending cuts.
Northern Ireland Secretary Owen Paterson has pledged the coalition’s support but the issue of domestic water charging, opposed by most of the local parties, could be revisited.
PA
