AQW 16475/17-22

Mr John Blair
Alliance Party
South Antrim

Tabled Date: 16/03/2021
Answered On Date: 01/04/2021
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to outline plans to expand the current air quality monitoring network in 2021/22.

Answer:

Work is now well underway within my Department to develop Northern Ireland’s first Clean Air Strategy.

I recently ran a twelve week public consultation on The Clean Air Strategy Discussion Document (available at: http://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/clean_air_strategy_discussion_document), developed by my Department, which sought views on a wide variety of matters relating to air quality. It did not set out policy options or indicate a particular policy position at this stage.

Following the period of public discussion, responses received are being reviewed over the next few months, options considered and a range of proposals will be formulated. Some may relate to expansion of the monitoring network or the introductions of legislation, while others may relate to increasing awareness about air quality. Once I have considered the options and decided on a policy direction, it is anticipated that further work will be needed during the summer and autumn to develop preferred options more fully. Officials will then begin to draft the first Clean Air Strategy for Northern Ireland. This will be a more focused 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. It is hoped that this consultation will launch by the end of the year.

My Department financially supports district councils in monitoring air quality through the Local Air Quality Management (LAQM) grant and has done for many years. Through the LAQM grant scheme, councils can apply annually for financial support in connection with air quality monitoring, reviews, assessments, management and the preparation and implementation of action plans. Any request for funding for local councils to increase air pollution monitoring would be considered as part of the LAQM process and I encourage any council wishing to increase monitoring to contact the Air and Environmental Quality Unit within DAERA.