To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to outline his plans to address the ecological crisis in Lough Neagh.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to outline his Department’s plans to address the ecological crisis in Lough Neagh

As the member will be aware, there are no quick fixes to the occurrence and probable re-occurrence of blue green algal blooms at Lough Neagh. This is a problem that has been decades in the making and it could take decades to restore.

Such is the importance I place on this issue, I made it a priority to visit Lough Neagh in my first week as Minister. During that visit, I met with local stakeholders in the Lough Neagh Partnership to listen and to see and hear first-hand the extent of the issue.

I am also pleased to see that the Assembly and Executive share my desire to make Lough Neagh, and the wider environmental issues affecting it, a priority.

A cross departmental Water Quality Steering Group is finalising a draft report with a set of evidenced based recommendations to tackle Blue Green Algae and secure longer-term improvements in water quality across Northern Ireland. I will take this report to the Executive, recognising that this issue is a priority for all Parties.

In the meantime, work is already being taken forward. For example, my Chief Scientific Advisor chairs an Independent Science Advisory which has reviewed potential in-lake future management options and highlighted measures for consideration.

Officials have also commenced working on a Small Business Research Initiative scheme to identify viable technical solutions to deal with the immediate effects of the Algae within the Lough.

My Department, through its College for Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise, has already commenced a programme delivering training for farmers / land managers targeted towards Lough Neagh catchment areas. In addition, a tailored awareness programme will be offered to contractors around best practice for spreading slurry.

Ultimately, we need to work together to bring long term solutions to this issue and I’m glad that the Executive discussed this as one of its first items on its agenda.

There was agreement that we need to work together, not just in government but also working with users, local residents and stakeholder organisations, in structure that enables us all to play our part in returning Lough Neagh to its rightful state as an ecological jewel at the heart of Northern Ireland.