The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) is an Executive Agency within the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA). 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, 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.
NIEA Framework Document