4. Mr Sheehan asked the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs for an update on the implementation of the Lough Neagh report and action plan. (AQO 754/22-27)

Following the Executive’s approval of the Lough Neagh report and action plan on 18 July, the focus has turned to implementation of the actions. Good progress has been made on a number of the actions, including, for example, the development of a Lough Neagh science platform, the launch of two small business research initiatives and the implementation of the inter-agency blue-green algae monitoring protocol. While the action plan offers a comprehensive approach, it acknowledges that achieving substantial recovery will take many years due to the complex nature of the issues at Lough Neagh. There is a significant amount of work to do, alongside our stakeholders, which will take both time and resources. I am firmly committed to ensuring the implementation of the action plan as swiftly as possible.

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as ucht a fhreagra.

[Translation: I thank the Minister for his answer.]

One area of concern around the action plan is the fact that there was no funding support for fishermen who saw a drastic cut to their income last year and are probably facing an even more dire situation this year. Does the Minister have any plans to introduce emergency funding support for those who make a living on the lough?

I will be meeting fishers from Lough Neagh tomorrow around that. I am very aware of the challenges around inland fisheries in Lough Neagh and the pressures that they have been under. I have engaged with officials. There are a number of issues arising from that, particularly around availability of funding and the recurrent nature of any support that will be required, but I have been exploring it with officials, and tomorrow, I will be engaging with people who are directly affected by it.

The Minister might be aware that, yesterday, I asked a question to the First Minister and deputy First Minister in relation to Lough Neagh, on the closely related matter of the environmental improvement plan. I got a reply about Executive confidentiality, even though the matter that I referenced has been widely and publicly reported and referenced by the Office —

Is there a question?

— for Environmental Protection. It relates directly to the question, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker, which is this: can the Minister give us an update on Northern Ireland's first draft environment strategy and the environmental improvement plan?

The environmental improvement plan will be Northern Ireland's first environment strategy. There was a legal obligation for that to be adopted in July 2023. After taking office in February, I brought that plan to the Executive in March, and I will continue to engage with Executive colleagues to secure its adoption.

Subsequent to my bringing the paper to the Executive in March, the Office for Environmental Protection commenced an investigation as a result of the failure to adopt the environmental improvement plan. Legal challenges have also been lodged with my Department around that. I will continue to engage with Executive colleagues in relation to it. It is relevant to Lough Neagh because the catchment area of Lough Neagh is substantial, and it is important that we take significant environmental action to address those issues. The environmental improvement plan is not just a statutory obligation; it is a tool to improve our environment.

Minister, what is the projected overall cost of the implementation of the Lough Neagh action plan, and, of that projected overall cost, how much has been assured to date?

We are working through that with officials so that I can give you a correct answer. I have some estimates that I have worked out myself, but I want to engage with officials so that I can give you a substantial response. A significant range of actions need to be taken. The investment required in waste water infrastructure is significant, as are the interventions around agriculture. Some of that is mainstreamed as part of agricultural practice, so I want to make sure that I give you a correct figure. This year, I have essentially reallocated resources within my Department towards Lough Neagh and the interventions that are required. I will write to the Member with a full breakdown of the spend, but the cost of repairing and remedying the damage in Lough Neagh is way in excess of what it would have been if the situation had not been allowed to unfold in the first place.