AQW 11199/17-22

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 30/11/2020
Answered On Date: 15/01/2021
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to detail (i) the reasons for the increased levels of pollution recently experienced in Northern Ireland; and (ii) what (a) short-term; and (b) long-term steps he is taking to prevent future instances of such pollution.

Answer:

In order to protect public health and our environment, my Department has extensive monitoring and surveillance networks across Northern Ireland, in respect of a number of environmental pollutants. Where possible, in light of government health and safety guidance, monitoring and surveillance continues and I set out below some information relating to air quality, water quality and fly tipping during the lockdown period.

Air Quality

DAERA officials monitor air quality on a weekly, daily and if necessary, hourly basis. This enables air quality alerts to be issued as soon as high levels of air pollution are experienced or forecast. Levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) remain lower in 2020 than the average for the preceding five years for almost all of 2020. Levels in 2020 are lower than the previous 5 year average both before and after lockdown, which started on 23 March 2020. Levels of NO2 tend to be lower in summer months and, this is the case in 2020. Levels of particulate matter (PM) have varied considerably since the start of 2020. For the majority of the first quarter of 2020, levels of PM were lower than the 2015-2019 five-year average. Since lockdown levels have, for the most part, been higher than the five year average. A high air pollution alert was issued in respect of forecast high levels of particulate matter on 10 April 2020 and monitored levels on and 29 November 2020.

It is difficult to determine the precise cause of these trends seen in pollutants. Air quality is affected by weather. Strong winds can disperse pollutants, whilst temperature inversions can trap localised pollution close to the surface. It can also be impacted by human activities that are a source of pollution, such as residential solid fuel burning and use of vehicles.

A number for proactive steps have been taken by my Department to improve air quality in Northern Ireland. My Department continues to financially assist the district councils with monitoring and action plans to improve air quality through the Local Air Quality Management Grant. Funding is also provided to other organisations for activities that promote active travel and improve air quality.

My Department is developing the first Clean Air Strategy for Northern Ireland, a two-stage approach has been adopted. Initially a Clean Air Strategy Discussion Document, which presents an in-depth analysis of air quality in Northern Ireland and sets out current policy and evidence, was launched to a 12 week public consultation on Monday 23rd November 2020. The Discussion Document seeks views on a wide variety of matters relating to air quality. It does not set out policy options or indicate a particular policy position. I encourage all Members to review to the Clean Air Strategy Discussion Document and respond to the questions posed in the document. The Discussion Document and Abridged version are available at:

http://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/clean_air_strategy_discussion_document

Following this period of public discussion, responses received will be reviewed, options considered and range of proposals formulated. Once I have considered the options and decided on a policy direction, officials shall begin to draft the first Clean Air Strategy for Northern Ireland. This will be a more focussed and shorter document than the Discussion Document and will contain specific proposals relating to policy and other measures which can improve air quality. This draft Clean Air Strategy will be subject to an additional public consultation and due to the cross-cutting nature of the policy area, Executive approval will also be sought at that time.

The DAERA Air Quality website was redesigned earlier this year and the improved website was launched on 31st July 2019. The website provides the general public with information on topics including, pollutants, forecasts, health impacts and Pollution Busters – a section exclusively for children about air pollution. In recognition of the cross-cutting benefits of this informative and educational resource, DAERA officials worked with Department for Infrastructure and Department for Health colleagues to ensure that all information available to the public was current and accurate.

The Air Quality App, launched on 7th May 2020, is a further example of the steps taken by my Department to reduce air pollution. The App informs the public of the issues, and importantly, the interventions individuals can take to tackle pollution. The Northern Ireland Air Quality App gives the public instant up to date information on the air pollution levels across Northern Ireland and a five day air quality forecast. It also provides the public with valuable health advice on the impacts of reduced air quality, to help them make informed decisions about their actions and activities on days when air quality is poor. The pollutants monitored are nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter (PM), sulphur dioxide and ozone.

Water Quality

It is the role of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) to conserve, protect and where possible improve the aquatic environment. We do this through a range of activities including the regulation of effluent discharges, farm inspections, catchment investigations and the promotion of good practice in new developments (through its response to planning consultations) and the education of the industry sector and the wider community.

Undertaking a targeted catchment approach to improving water quality requires a wide range of communication, engagement and partnership working both across Departments and across sectors.

In order to prevent or minimise the impact of pollution, NIEA co-ordinates and manages the response to reports of pollution within set time targets, depending on the severity of the incident.

The number of confirmed water pollution incidents have remained constant for 2020 in comparison to recent years. NIEA’s water pollution response team remained operational throughout 2020 and have received 1576 reports of water pollution by 18/10/20. Of these, 772 were subsequently confirmed upon investigation. This compares similarly for the same time period in other years (see table below).

Year	No. water pollution incidents reported	No. of water pollution incidents confirmed
2017	1487	824
2018	1508	770
2019	1457	777
2020	1576	772

Fly tipping

With regard to waste, my Department focuses its enforcement actions primarily on larger scale waste dumping activity rather than low level ad hoc dumping often referred to as ‘fly-tipping’, which is primarily addressed by District Councils.

Since 1 January 2020 to date, my Department has received 1007 reported incidents of alleged illegal waste disposal, compared to 823 during the same period last year. Of these incidents in 2020, 165 recorded waste disposal by burning compared to 118 during the same period last year, representing an increase of 40%.

While I have no plans at present to strengthen or change the legislation around illegal dumping, my officials are working with councils to consider the effectiveness of the existing legislation and explore how we can work together to make best use of the powers contained within it.

This may create opportunities to deal more quickly and effectively with lower level offending on a local level through fixed penalty notices rather than being reliant on Court proceedings, the timings of which are outside of our control.