Northern Ireland nutrient review "a matter of urgency"

The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) has told Northern Ireland’s Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to progress its four yearly implementation review of its Nutrient Action Programme as “a matter of urgency”.

The review, required under the Nutrient Action Programme Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2019, was due on 11 October. The department informed the OEP in August that completion would not be possible because of the absence of ministers. In a letter, the OEP’s chief regulatory officer, Helen Venn, questioned this, and cautioned: “Failure to complete the necessary review and public consultation is cause for concern. Not only is there a legal requirement to do so, but also a pressing need to address the significant issues of nutrient pollution in Northern Ireland – as exemplified by the situation at Lough Neagh.”

The letter listed the OEP’s information requirements, and added: “Ambition and urgent action are needed to secure the protection and improvement of the environment, particularly in relation to water quality.”