Rivers Agency - what we do

The Department is the statutory drainage and flood protection authority for Northern Ireland. Under the terms of the Drainage (Northern Ireland) Order 1973 the Department has discretionary powers to:-

•Maintain watercourses and sea defences which have been designated by the Drainage Council for Northern Ireland

•Construct and maintain drainage and flood defence structures

•Administer advisory and enforcement procedures to protect the drainage function of all watercourses.

All executive functions arising from the Department’s statutory remit under the Drainage Order are undertaken by the Agency and it also exercises the Department’s responsibilities in regard to regulation of the water levels in Lough Neagh and Lough Erne (the latter in conjunction with the Electricity Supply Board in the Republic of Ireland). The Agency advises the Department on policy issues associated with these functions.

The Agency is required to adhere to the Department’s Countryside Management Strategy in the exercise of its functions.