AQW 18123/17-22

Mr John Blair
Alliance Party
South Antrim

Tabled Date: 28/04/2021
Answered On Date: 11/05/2021
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs for an update on his Department’s work to implement the recommendations of the Making Ammonia Visible report.

Answer:

In May 2018, DAERA published its initial position on the recommendations of the Expert Working Group in “Making Ammonia Visible.” This document is available on the DAERA website at the link below;

https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/daera/DAERA%20Response%20to%20EWG%20Ammonia%20Annex%20May%202018.pdf

Since then, the DAERA commissioned scientific research programme on ammonia, as recommended in “Making Ammonia Visible”, has delivered a wide range of outputs, including inclusion of more Northern Ireland specific data in the ammonia inventory, analysis on the potential for ammonia reduction in Northern Ireland and how this can be achieved most cost-effectively, case studies on ammonia reduction at individual farm level and increased ammonia monitoring at regional, farm and habitat level in Northern Ireland. The emerging conclusions from this research programme were communicated publicly via webinars in September 2020. Recordings of these webinars are available on the DAERA website at the link below;

https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/articles/ammonia-emissions-northern-ireland

Addressing the recommendations in “Making Ammonia Visible” will form an important aspect of the forthcoming draft ammonia strategy. This strategy will include proposals for an ambitious ammonia reduction programme, restoration and management of our most valuable habitats and a revised Operational Protocol for the assessment of impacts from atmospheric nitrogen pollution.