Will the Minister outline how the extra £1.5 million to Natural Resources Wales is being allocated?
The £1.5m increased revenue funding for Natural Resources Wales (NRW), announced on 15 March, forms part of the Welsh Government’s overall 2022-23 investment package to support delivery of the Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Programme.
The additional funding will enable NRW to enhance its revenue-based activities to reduce the risk and impact of flooding across Wales. Revenue-costs include the maintenance of flood assets, community awareness raising, outreach and engagement work, research, evidence gathering and analysis, mapping and modelling work, flood forecasting and associated staff costs.
The additional revenue allocation takes account of the additional funding requirement identified by NRW in its review of its response to the substantial flooding in February 2020.
The increased funding directly supports the delivery of measures set out in the Flood Strategy and the Programme for Government and Co-operation Agreement commitments.
This work is being carried out in collaboration with Sian Gwenllian MS, the Plaid Cymru Designated Member, as part of the Co-operation Agreement between the Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru.