Northern Ireland Environment Agency
The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) is an Executive Agency within the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs.
Strategic purpose
The Agency’s primary purpose is to protect and enhance Northern Ireland’s environment, and in doing so, deliver health and well-being benefits and support economic growth.
As an Executive Agency within DAERA, NIEA is a key contributor to DAERA’s vision of ‘Sustainability at the heart of a living, working, active landscape valued by everyone’. In line with NIEA’s overall purpose, the Agency has established its own three Key Priorities:
- Environmental Regulation, Protection and Enforcement.
- Water Quality
- Nature Recovery
Framework Document
The NIEA was originally established on 1 July 2008, within the previous Department of the Environment, and reconfirmed as an Agency of DAERA following the creation of DAERA in May 2016. As an Agency, the NIEA is required to operate within a framework document that complies with the requirements of Managing Public Money NI and has been approved by the Agency Accounting Officer, the Principal Accounting Officer, the Department of Finance and the relevant Departmental Minister.
The Framework Document has been drawn up by DAERA in consultation with the NIEA to set out the broad framework within which NIEA will operate. The Framework Document does not convey any legal powers or responsibilities but describes the operational relationship between NIEA, as an Executive Agency and DAERA.
Business Plan
- NIEA Business Plan 2024-25
- NIEA Business Plan 2023-24
- NIEA Balanced Scorecard 2022-23
- NIEA Business Plan 2020-21
- NIEA Business Plan 2019-20
- NIEA Business Plan 2018-19
- NIEA Business Plan 2017-18
- NIEA Business Plan 2016-17
Annual Reports and Accounts
- NIEA Annual Report and Accounts 2023/24
- NIEA Annual Report and Accounts 2022/23
- NIEA Annual Report and Accounts 2021/22
- NIEA Annual Report and Accounts 2020/21
- NIEA Annual Report and Accounts 2019/20
- NIEA Annual Report and Accounts 2018/19
- NIEA Annual Report and Accounts 2017/18
- NIEA Annual Report and Accounts 2016/17
Organisation and structures
The Agency is headed by a Chief Executive and two Directors:
| Role | Person |
|---|---|
| Chief Executive | David Reid |
| Director of Regulation & Enforcement Division | Richard Crowe |
| Director of Natural Environment Division | Liz Loughran |
NIEA Board
The Board, consisting of the NIEA Chief Executive, its two Directors and two non-Executive Board Members, meets regularly to ensure the Agency carries out its statutory functions and activities.
| Role | Person |
|---|---|
| Chief Executive (Chair) | David Reid |
| Director of Regulation & Enforcement Division | Richard Crowe |
| Director of Natural Environment Division | Liz Loughran |
| Non-Executive Board Member | Paul Douglas |
| Non-Executive Board Member | Stephen Welch |
- NIEA Board meeting minutes - 2025
- NIEA Board meeting minutes - 2024
- NIEA Board meeting minutes - 2023
- NIEA Board meeting minutes - 2022
- NIEA Board meeting minutes - 2021
- NIEA Board meeting minutes - 2020
- NIEA Board meeting minutes - 2019
- NIEA Board meeting minutes - 2018
- NIEA Board meeting minutes - 2017
- NIEA Board meeting minutes - 2016
- NIEA Board meeting minutes - 2015