Minister Muir previously announced that he had approved 20 of the actions relevant to his department, whilst he awaited Executive approval of the remaining 17 which were either new or cross-cutting.

Speaking following today’s Executive meeting Minister Muir said: “I am grateful to my Executive colleagues for supporting the plan I presented and recognising Lough Neagh as a priority.

“The Action Plan is not a wish list - it is a detailed, science-led, proportionate and ambitious set of actions that will make a tangible difference to our waterways. However, due to the depth and complexity of the problem there are no quick fixes, and it will take time to see substantial recovery.

“The publication of the full Lough Neagh Report and Action Plan will be a significant step towards improving water quality, reducing blue-green algae and ensuring we can rehabilitate the Lough to a healthy status. They also complement and support the actions and targets in the Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP), and I will continue to work with Executive colleagues to obtain approval for it as well.

“Delivery of the actions in this plan will require significant investment to ensure the long-term improvement in water quality across Northern Ireland.  While our ambition and determination remain high, the pace of progress will depend to some extent on the funding available.

“Working in partnership within government and with residents and businesses will be a fundamentally important element in achieving the outcomes that we all wish to attain for this and future generations.”