FOI 21-26: A request for information on pest control services used by the Assembly in the last five years
Information Standards Freedom of Information Response
Our ref: 21-26
5 May 2026
Freedom of Information Act 2000
I am writing to confirm that the Norhern Ireland Assembly Commission (Assembly Commission) has processed your request dated 13 April 2026 in line with the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA). In your request, you asked:
'In each of the past five years, can the NI Assembly note how many times it has had to use a pest control service? Broken down into each year.
For each year, please show the nature of the call-outs. Meaning was it in relation to a rat, mice or other pest. Where these pests were spotted, for example, in the grounds, in an MLA's office, in the canteen etc.
Please state the cost of pest control at Stormont in each of the last five years.
Please note how the pests were dealt with on each occasion and provide a report from the pest control expert if possible’.
Our response
The Assembly Commission holds information in relation to your request.
In each of the past five years, can the NI Assembly note how many times it has had to use a pest control service? Broken down into each year.
Number of Pest Control call outs 2021-2026*:
Financial Year |
Number of Visits |
|
2021–22 |
1 |
|
2022–23 |
6 |
|
2023–24 |
7 |
|
2024–25 |
14 |
|
2025–26* |
4 |
For each year, please show the nature of the call-outs. Meaning was it in relation to a rat, mice or other pest.
|
Financial Year |
Total Jobs |
Smell / Suspected Dead Rodent |
Rodent Sightings / Activity |
Bait Box Checks / Replenishment |
Flies |
Wasps |
Birds |
Other Pests |
|
2021–22 |
1 |
Not Held |
Not Held |
Not Held |
Not Held |
Not Held |
Not Held |
Not Held |
|
2022–23 |
6 |
2 |
4 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
2023–24 |
7 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
2024–25 |
14 |
3 |
5 |
5 |
4 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
|
2025–26* |
4 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
* 2025–26 figures are year‑to‑date.
The Assembly Commission holds records of pest control activity in the form of individual job requests, which include free‑text descriptions of the issue reported. For the purposes of this response, these descriptions have been reviewed and categorised into high‑level pest types. It should be noted that the call out records do not consistently specify the species (e.g. rat or mouse) in a standardised way. For this reason, rodent reports have been grouped as ‘Rodent sightings/activity’ or ‘Small/suspected dead rodent’, based on the free‑text description recorded at the time.
A single pest control job may relate to more than one issue (for example, a rodent sighting and the subsequent inspection or replenishment of bait boxes). As such, figures shown under each category should not be interpreted as representing unique incidents, and category totals may exceed the number of jobs recorded in a given year. Detailed descriptive information is not held in a usable format for the 2021–22 year, and therefore categorisation is not available for that period.
Where these pests were spotted, for example, in the grounds, in an MLA's office, in the canteen etc.
Where location information is recorded in the call out system, it is contained in a free‑text field and the level of detail varies. The information held has therefore been standardised to floor‑level (or external/grounds) for reporting purposes. More granular location information (e.g. specific rooms such as an MLA office or canteen) is not held consistently in a format that allows reliable quantification across all call outs. Please note the figures below include all the categories above including flies, wasps, birds etc.
|
Financial Year |
2021-22 |
2022-23 |
2023-24 |
2024-25 |
2025-26* |
|
Basement |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Ground Floor |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
|
1st Floor |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
2nd Floor |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
3rd Floor |
0 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
|
4th Floor |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
External/Grounds |
0 |
3 |
4 |
6 |
1 |
* 2025–26 figures are year‑to‑date.
Please state the cost of pest control at Stormont in each of the last five years.
Maintenance at Parliament Buildings is delivered through two service types: Planned Preventive Maintenance (PPM) and Reactive Maintenance. The annual costs for both PPM and reactive services over the last five years are detailed below.
|
Financial Year |
PPM Annual Cost |
Reactive Annual Cost |
Total Annual Cost |
|
2021–22 |
£201.66 |
£23.73 |
£225.39 |
|
2022–23 |
£87.56 |
£413.63 |
£501.19 |
|
2023–24 |
£87.56 |
£358.46 |
£446.02 |
|
2024–25 |
£87.56 |
£1,105.63 |
£1,193.19 |
|
2025–26* |
£87.56 |
£162.92 |
£250.48 |
* 2025–26 figures are year‑to‑date.
Please note how the pests were dealt with on each occasion and provide a report from the pest control expert if possible.
|
Issue Reported |
Action Taken |
|
Odour / Suspected Deceased Rodent |
Inspection carried out to identify any evidence of rodent activity. Where identified, the affected area was cleared and the carcass removed in line with standard procedures. |
|
Rodent Sightings / Signs of Activity |
Inspection undertaken to confirm the presence of rodent activity and assess any necessary follow‑up action. |
|
Bait Box Inspections / Replenishment |
Bait boxes inspected and replenished where required in accordance with the pest control programme. |
|
Flies |
Affected area cleaned and any source of attraction removed. |
|
Wasps |
Nest or presence assessed; where necessary, the area was treated and cleaned in line with approved pest control measures. |
|
Birds |
Area inspected, with removal of debris or contaminants and cleaning carried out as required. |
|
Other Pests |
Appropriate pest‑specific action taken, including removal and cleaning of the affected area where necessary. |
Further Information
You may request an internal review of this decision by the Assembly Commission. If you wish to request such a review, please write to me at the above address. If, after that review, you are dissatisfied with the way in which the Assembly Commission has handled your request for information, you may complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) at Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF.
Your request for information and our response may be published in the disclosure log maintained by the Assembly Commission under a publication scheme agreed with the ICO. The request and our response will be anonymised.
Yours sincerely
INFORMATION STANDARDS
