The Environment Act also provides that DAERA must make arrangements for obtaining such data about the natural environment as it considers appropriate for the purpose of monitoring whether the natural environment is, or particular aspects of it are, improving in accordance with the EIP. DAERA is legally obliged to publish and lay before the Northern Ireland Assembly a statement setting out the kinds of data to be obtained for those purposes. The Department has now published its first data collection statement which will be reviewed and updated as necessary.
Schedule 2 to the Environment Act 2021 requires DAERA to prepare an Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP). The EIP sets out the steps that DAERA, and other NI departments, intend to take to improve the natural environment, including measures needed to meet its long-term and interim targets. DAERA is required to publish its first EIP by July 2023 and make annual reports on progress thereafter.
EIP Data Collection Statement