AQW 33401/11-15

Mr Steven Agnew
Green Party
North Down

Tabled Date: 12/05/2014
Answered On Date: 28/05/2014
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of the Environment when his Department became aware that the extraction of minerals from Lough Neagh Special Protection Area was taking place without planning permission.

Answer:

The Department is aware that this activity predates the current planning system and has been ongoing since the 1930s. The issue has been raised in previous years but the decision at that time was not to pursue enforcement action, however this decision is now being revisited in consultation with the NIEA.