AQW 39922/22-27

Miss Michelle McIlveen
Democratic Unionist Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 05/02/2026
Answered On Date: 04/03/2026
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Infrastructure for an update on the review of old mineral permissions.

Answer:

The Review of Old Mineral Permissions (ROMPs) are provisions of the Planning Act (NI) 2011 that have not to date been commenced. I am aware that there are issues involved in commencing these provisions in their current form and for the provisions to be implemented effectively and with legal certainty, legislative changes will be required to both primary and subordinate legislation.

I have instructed officials to begin a strategic scoping exercise to consider the future direction of the planning system, including regional and strategic planning policy, which will include considerations with respect to ROMPs in the context of a potential future Planning Bill.

In the interim, I am reassured that councils have powers to address environmental impacts of mineral operations through existing mechanisms such as the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act (NI) 2011, planning enforcement, and other environmental legislation, which provides a degree of regulatory oversight.