AQO 1675/17-22 Oral question to the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs for an update on the monitoring of waste water containing the novel coronavirus responsible for COVID-19.
Asked by Paula Bradshaw MLA on 18 February 2021
- Answered
- Oral
- Answered in the Chamber
- Tabled
- 18 February 2021
- Answer due by
- 2 March 2021
- Answered
- 2 March 202112 days after tabling
- Priority question
- No
Answer
Answered in the Assembly Chamber on 2 March 2021. Extract from the Official Report (Hansard), including any supplementary questions:
Mr Lyons
My officials have been working with DEFRA, other devolved Administrations and the Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) to inform the development of a Northern Ireland programme for SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus surveillance in waste water. In November 2020, DAERA agreed to co-fund a research project with SFI to establish that waste water surveillance and reporting. In Northern Ireland, a team at Queen's University Belfast is leading that work, with collaborative partners in University College Dublin. They commenced their research in December 2020, with an initial scope of work that included sampling two waste water treatment sites in Northern Ireland, with plans to extend to a further six sites: eight sites in total. DAERA agreed a funding extension of the initial research grant award in January, which will enable the capability being established through the programme to process a greater number of samples in the coming months. DAERA officials are engaging with their counterparts in the Department of Health, the Public Health Agency and the Department for Infrastructure to develop an effective cross-departmental approach to long-term waste water surveillance.
Ms Bradshaw
Thank you very much, Minister. That is very helpful. I am pleased to hear that Queen's University in my constituency is involved in this and that there will be cross-departmental working. To what degree will the public be made aware of any of the findings of the research?
Mr Lyons
The Member will be aware that we are still at the early stages of the research. We have no data or results to share yet. It is right that the research should be publicised and made available to the general public so that they can see the benefits of doing this. Perhaps the Member is referring specifically to those who will be affected when this is rolled out. Of course, it is right that, if the work is being done and issues are detected, the whole point will be to tell the local public so that they can take precautions as necessary.
Mr Beggs
Minister, you referred to ongoing monitoring. Has that activity and research determined that there is a need for additional protection for staff who work in waste water treatment works, or is there a need for additional treatment to protect the public against any resulting risks?
Mr Lyons
There is no doubt that the staff involved in this take all proper precautions. They always will, due to the nature of the work that they do. I am not aware of any particular impact on the public or extra treatment that might need to be carried out. If there is, I am more than happy to furnish the Member with that information. It is right that we highlight the importance of the issue. It is innovative and very positive to see this collaboration as we try to do more to deal with the pandemic.