Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister MLA and the Irish Government's
Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne
TD have today welcomed the announcement by the Taoiseach of
substantial funding from the Shared Island Initiative to improve
water quality in Lough Neagh.
A total of £49.3m (56.7m) will be invested in the new cooperative
Lough Neagh Catchment Area Water Quality (LNWQ) programme, with
33m from the Department of the Taoiseach through the Shared
Island Initiative supported by £11.5m (13.2m) from DAERA and
10.5m from the Irish Government's Department of Housing, Local
Government and Heritage.
The five-year programme spanning 2027 to 2031 will involve
investment in a range of ecological and on farm measures to
improve water quality and will include the transfer of knowledge
and best practice between both jurisdictions.
Minister Muir said: I am thrilled to announce this ambitious
project in partnership with the Irish Government - an important
intervention as we strive to turn the tide on water quality in
Lough Neagh. The Lough Neagh Catchment Programme supports my
Department's multi-agency, evidence-led approach, focused on
protecting the waterways flowing into the Lough. This funding
represents a joint commitment to our island's largest freshwater
lake and a substantial investment in its future.
The ecological and biodiversity crisis in Lough Neagh is one of
the most distressing and visible environmental crises that
Northern Ireland has ever witnessed. Improving our water quality
requires us to support all sectors, including our farming
community, who I commend for taking positive steps to protect the
environment by managing nutrients more efficiently.
This initiative is based upon the successful Sustainable
Catchment Programme approach. It provides specific advisory
support and financial assistance to farm businesses through the
development of water environment management plans and the
delivery of specific on farm measures, such as water course
fencing, creation of riparian margins, tree and hedge planting
and livestock watering systems. This project focusses on farms in
the Blackwater and other Lough Neagh catchments.
The Irish Government's Minister for Housing, Local Government and
Heritage, James Browne TD added: The island of Ireland is a
distinct environmental unit and really benefits from working
together on cross border environmental management issues, such as
the water quality issues in Lough Neagh.
The Shared Island Initiative to improve water quality in Lough
Neagh is a welcome step forward in addressing its water quality
issues and the blue-green algae blooms.
This is a fantastic opportunity for continued positive knowledge
sharing and collaboration in catchment science and water quality,
which provides much-needed advice and financial support for
farmers so they can take steps on farms to improve water quality.
This builds on Ireland's Water Action Plan and the Farming for
Water European Innovation Partnership (EIP) focussed on
implementing the right measure, in the right place.
Both Departments will now engage further in finalising the
overall approach with further information to be provided in the
time ahead.
Notes to editors:
- The Government of Ireland's Shared Island initiative is
designed to deepen cooperation to address common challenges and
take up opportunities across the island of Ireland, working with
the Northern Ireland Executive and the British Government.
- The Lough Neagh Catchment Programme is a five-year programme
spanning 2027 to 2031, to be funded through contributions from
DAERA, the Shared Island Initiative and DHLGH. The total
anticipated cost of the programme is 56.7m (c£49.3m). Shared
Island Funding will run from calendar years 2027 to 2031, with
some preliminary set up funding to be provided by DAERA in late
2026.
- The Northern Ireland element of the programme is expected to
cost £31.5m, comprising £11.5m Capital DEL requirement from DAERA
and £20.0m (23m) from the Shared Island Initiative. Of the DAERA
contribution, £6.5m will be for on-farm measures and £5m for
monitoring best practice/research and promote the learnings for
increased implementation of the farm measures.
- The Ireland element of the programme is anticipated to cost
£17.8m (20.5m), with £9.1m (10.5m) to be provided by DHLGH and
£8.7m (10.0m) from the Shared Island Initiative.
