AQW 53174/22-27

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 28/09/2026
Answered On Date: 09/10/2026
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to detail (i) any further interventions that are being considered to reduce the frequency and severity of blue-green algal blooms in Lough Neagh; (ii) any evidence available on their potential effectiveness; and (iii) any anticipated timescale for determining whether they will be implemented.

Answer:

Measures to reduce nutrient inputs, particularly phosphorus, remain fundamental to addressing blue-green algal blooms in Lough Neagh.

Consultation on the Nutrients Action Programme (NAP) 2027-2030 has recently concluded. The final programme is intended to improve water quality by reducing nutrient losses, from agricultural sources, to our waterways through a range of measures which strengthen nutrient management.

I recently announced a new Shared Island-funded Lough Neagh Catchment Area Water Quality Programme, running from 2027 to 2031, with investment in a range of ecological and on farm measures.

The Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI), which is examining innovative technologies to mitigate harmful algal blooms, is currently in Phase 2 of testing and evidence gathering and is expected to conclude in March 2027.

These measures complement wider actions to strengthen wastewater regulation and environmental protection, including new water environment legislation, wastewater regulatory reform and the establishment of an Independent Environmental Protection Agency.

The effectiveness of these interventions is being assessed through ongoing monitoring, including DAERA's publicly available Lough Neagh Dashboards. AFBI research indicates that, even with substantial reductions in nutrient inputs, recovery of the Lough's ecological condition could take between 20 to 40 years.