A total of €56.7 million will be invested in the all-island cooperative Lough Neagh Catchment Area Water Quality (LNWQ) programme, with some money earmarked for on-farm measures.

This breaks down to €33 million from the department of the Taoiseach through the Shared Island Initiative, supported by £11.5 million (€13.2 million) from Northern Ireland’s Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), and €10.5 million 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.

Northern Ireland's Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Andrew 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.

The minister went on to describe the ecological and biodiversity crisis in Lough Neagh as one of the most distressing and visible environmental crises that Northern Ireland has ever witnessed.

He added: "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."

Minister Muir said that the initiative is based upon the successful Sustainable Catchment Programme approach, which 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," he said.

‘Working together’

Ireland's Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage James Browne said: "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 Irish government’s Shared Island initiative is designed to deepen cooperation to address common challenges and opportunities across the island of Ireland, working with the Northern Ireland Executive and the British government.

Minister Browne added: "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," the minister added.

Both departments will now engage further in finalising the overall approach with further information to be provided in the time ahead.