NI Water's £8.5m consultancy fees

Northern Ireland Water spent more than £8.5m in consultancy fees in the last financial year, it has emerged.

The Department for Regional Development said the fees included management, technical and legal consultancy fees.

The figures were revealed in a written answer from Regional Development Minister Conor Murphy.

"We managing one of the largest capital programmes in Northern Ireland. This year alone we're investing £280m," said NI Water's Chris Mellors.

"But you can't do all that and carry out the day job, supplying water and waste water services to three-quarters of a million households in Northern Ireland.

"You just cannot carry out this kind of transformation project without some support and help."