AQW 4828/22-27

Mr John Blair
Alliance Party
South Antrim

Tabled Date: 18/10/2022
Answered On Date: 25/10/2022
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs what recent estimate his Department has made of the level of plastic pollution in (i) waterways; and (ii) rivers in Northern Ireland, in the latest period for which the data is available.

Answer:

My Department undertakes statutory monitoring in waterways, including rivers, to meet the requirements of the Water Framework Directive as enshrined in Northern Ireland legislation. We do not monitor levels of plastics in waterways, as there is no statutory requirement to do this, and therefore no data are available.