To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs for his assessment of the impact of sewage discharges on (i) coastal areas; and (ii) sea swimmers.

My Department monitors water quality around the coast of Northern Ireland and specifically examines microbiology at 26 identified bathing waters. In 2021, all sites met at least the minimum standards for water quality, with 19 achieving the ‘excellent’ standards.

The standards are based on World Health Organisation guidelines to protect swimmers from faecal contamination from human or agricultural sources. The overall results indicate that sites are not impacted and swimmers are therefore protected. However, occasionally there are higher microbiological results and these are always investigated to try to identify the cause. DAERA works with NI Water and other partners through the Better Beaches Forum to manage our bathing waters and beaches. Northern Ireland Environment Agency regulates NI Water and private sewage infrastructure under the Water Order 1999 and receiving water status is used to prioritise investment.

My Department is currently undertaking a review of bathing waters. As part of this process a pre-consultation letter was issued to all councils during summer 2021, requesting the nomination of proposed bathing water sites for consideration.