Ministers welcome Shared Island investment in Lough Neagh
Date published:
Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister Andrew Muir 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.
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