NI Drainage Council

The Drainage Council (‘the Council’) for Northern Ireland is a non-Departmental Public Body constituted under the Drainage (NI) Order 1973. The Council has a general scrutiny role in relation to the Department’s drainage functions, and has a statutory duty to ensure uniformity of treatment of drainage throughout Northern Ireland.

The Council is an independent advisory body with 18 members appointed to oversee the programme of publicly funded drainage and flood defence projects in Northern Ireland. The Council is made up of ten District Councillors, a drainage specialist, representatives from conservation, fisheries, agriculture, industry, tourism and DOE Planning Service, and the Chief Executive of the Rivers Agency. Members are normally appointed for a four year term and appointments are made in accordance with the principles of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.