AQO 3312/17-22

Mr John Blair
Alliance Party
South Antrim

Tabled Date: 10/03/2022
Answered On Date: 21/03/2022
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Infrastructure to outline the impact of not having up-to-date ammonia guidance on the ability to promptly process planning applications.

Answer:

Development proposals for ammonia-emitting projects have the potential to have significant negative environmental impacts, particularly given the current levels of exceedance in the North.

In managing such applications, planning authorities seek input from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs as a statutory consultee to the planning system given its role as the statutory nature conservation body.

For a number of years DAERA’s input on such applications has been based on what is now acknowledged to be an out of date operational protocol on ammonia which does not reflect up to date scientific data or recent case law.

This has inevitably introduced both confusion and delay into the planning system and created difficulty for planning authorities seeking to make well-informed, lawful planning determinations.

As a result, I understand that a number of applications, mainly for agricultural development, have been held up across the planning system.

I have written previously to Minister Poots emphasising my consistent position that it is essential that the operational protocol is revised to reflect up to date scientific data and recent case law to support the efficient and effective management of such applications.

While there have been commitments from the DAERA Minister to bring forward a public consultation on an Ammonia Strategy by the end of 2020, which would include a revised operational protocol, this has not materialised.

My officials will continue to engage on these issues and remain fully prepared to work with DAERA as it takes forward its proposed work in this important area.