Question Time: Environment Monday 29 June 2015
Environment
Minister, Mark Durkan, discussed the Environment Committee’s report on wind
energy and how he will take on board its recommendations during today’s Question
Time. The Committee began an inquiry
into wind energy in November 2013 and published its findings in a report
in early 2015. The Minister welcomed the report saying that “it makes a
valuable contribution to the debate surrounding wind energy development” adding
that “I have sought to take account of the report's recommendations in
finalising my strategic planning policy statement (SPPS), which I will publish
as soon as possible following its consideration by the Executive.” Some of the
recommendations will be taken forward through guidance notes that the
Department is preparing on the processing of wind energy development. Other
recommendations such as noise assessment methodology and the minimum separation
distance of turbines from homes require further research and public
consultation which will take place as part of the fundamental review of
strategic planning policy for renewable energy. The Minister also assured that
he will work with the relevant authorities to ensure that recommendations that
fall outside the remit of the Department of the Environment (DoE) will be given
due consideration.
The Minister
then updated the House on the current state of funding for non-governmental
organisations in 2015-16. The budget settlement for DoE has had serious
implications for grant-aided programmes that support key environmental
processes. Mr Durkan has sought to limit the impact of cuts primarily through
the use of £1.5m in carrier bag levy receipts. In April 2015 the Minister launched
a workshop to determine the best way to invest residual carrier bag levy
funds. Following the workshop, attended by 22 environmental non-governmental
organisations (ENGOs), the natural
environment fund (NEF) opened for applications. The application period
closed in May and by mid-June, 21 ENGOs were notified of their successful application
for grant funding. Mr Durkan
acknowledged that current funding arrangements are not ideal given their ad hoc
nature with no long-term guarantees of sustained funding but maintained “I was
not particularly pleased with the hand that was dealt to me in the Budget.
However, I think that I have played that hand as well as I could. While the
stakes are high for all those groups, I took the gamble and got a big win for
them”.
Mr Durkan
also addressed Members queries on recycling, local development plans, disposal
of tyres and the transfer of functions to local government.
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