AQO 414/22-27

Miss Nuala McAllister
Alliance Party
North Belfast

Tabled Date: 02/05/2024
Answered On Date: 14/05/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs for an update on measures he intends to take to address issues associated with blue-green algae in Lough Neagh.

Answer:

There are no quick fixes for the blue green algal blooms at Lough Neagh. It is widely accepted that the blooms are highly likely to recur both in 2024 and in subsequent years. Real and sustained improvements will take decades.

However, I am pleased to confirm that my Department is already taking forward a range of measures aimed at addressing the problem. DAERA is leading a cross-departmental Water Quality Steering Group that is developing a Lough Neagh Report, this will include actions to tackle blue-green algae and secure longer-term improvements in water quality across Northern Ireland.

Once the Environmental Improvement Plan has received Executive approval I will move to publish without delay.

Improving water quality will require a significant investment. Inadequate resources will have a detrimental impact on funding the interventions needed.

Failing to address the problems will, in the longer term, result in the significant impacts we saw in 2023 becoming the norm. This is simply not something I will contemplate.