AQW 2310/17-22

Mr John Blair
Alliance Party
South Antrim

Tabled Date: 18/02/2020
Answered On Date: 04/03/2020
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs what financial provision he plans to provide in 2020/21 and 2021/22 to address the climate and biodiversity crisis.

Answer:

My department has sought additional funding of £2.2m / £2.7m Resource and £2.1m / £7.8m Capital in 2020-21 and 2021-22 to take forward the climate change references for DAERA in the “New Decade New Approach” document.

This is in addition to the £3m / £9m Strategic Environment Programmes Resource bids over the next two years which have been submitted to DoF as part of the ongoing Budget exercise. If this funding is allocated it would help to specifically realise improvements in biodiversity, air and water quality and some marine programmes which in turn should also contribute to combatting climate change.

The final allocations to these areas will be confirmed after the Executive agrees the budgets for DAERA for each of these years.