Minister Muir launches DAERA’s Corporate Plan

Date published: 13 March 2025

The plan sets a clear strategic direction for the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) that helps us travel a path towards a just transition to net zero, whilst also supporting our agri-food and fishing sectors, improving water quality and our environment, plus supporting our rural communities.

Speaking about the Corporate Plan, Minister Muir said: “I am pleased to publish my Department’s Corporate Plan for 2025-27 which provides a 10-point roadmap for the rest of this Assembly mandate. Its theme is Towards 2050: Delivering a net zero nature positive future, supporting sustainable agriculture and thriving rural communities.

“I want to make sure that the decisions I take and the direction of travel I have set, delivers environmental improvements, supports our valuable agri-food and fishing sectors, improves water quality and achieves strong, sustainable and diverse rural communities, underpinned by science and research.”

The 10 key pledges are:

• Bring forward the Carbon Budget Regulations to set carbon budgets and publish the Climate Action Plan
• Improve water quality, including implement the Lough Neagh Report and Action Plan
• Improve Environmental Governance
• Continue roll out of the Sustainable Agriculture Programme
• Bring forward solutions to eradicate Bovine TB
• Deliver a range of new animal welfare priorities to protect domestic and farmed animals
• Deliver a new, partnership-based rural policy
• Publish and work to deliver a new Nature Recovery Strategy
• Publish and work to implement a new Waste Management Strategy
• Continue to fulfil our obligations to implement the Windsor Framework

“There are significant challenges to meet coupled with real budget pressures and a constrained mandate, but my Department is committed to working collectively to deliver on the pledges within this Corporate Plan.”