Three non-executive (specialist) members have been appointed to the Drainage Council for Northern Ireland, Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins has announced.

Mrs Maureen Brunt and Dr Alex McGarel have been appointed for second terms while Mr Jim Martin will serve as a non-executive member on the Drainage Council NI for a first term, with the trio representing the specialist areas of Agriculture, Conservation and Drainage, respectively. The appointments took effect from July 1, 2025 and will be for a maximum of four years. 

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The Drainage Council is a non-departmental public body which performs a general scrutiny role in relation to the Department or Infrastructure's drainage functions and has a statutory duty to ensure uniformity of treatment on drainage issues throughout the North.

This includes overseeing the impartial and consistent application of drainage and flood defence works, and designating watercourses and sea defences for maintenance at public expense.

Discussing the appointments, Minister Kimmins said: "I am pleased to announce the appointments to these key roles. The Drainage Council performs the hugely important scrutiny function of our drainage and flood defences across the North and I am confident that these appointments will maintain the high standard of work set by previous members."