To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs how proposals within the draft Clean Air Strategy will improve air quality in urban areas like South Belfast.

Mr Muir

The draft clean sir strategy sets out a range of measures that will improve air quality across Northern Ireland, including in urban areas such as South Belfast, where people can be more exposed to pollution from transport, domestic heating and other sources. The strategy is currently out for public consultation, and I encourage everyone with an interest to have their say. Northern Ireland's Chief Medical Officer, because of its strong focus on protecting public health, has welcomed the consultation. I was delighted that so many of our major health charities supported the consultation's launch. The draft strategy contains five strategic objectives, which are aimed at reducing harmful emissions; improving our evidence base; strengthening legislation; increasing public awareness; and supporting behavioural change. Each strategic objective has a set of practical actions attached, including, for example, consulting on limit values in order to make relevant legislative changes; achieving a fair and just transition for home heating; establishing a Northern Ireland clean air forum; increasing investment in active travel; and reviewing the local air quality management grant. Together, those measures will help deliver cleaner air for communities across Northern Ireland.

Mr Muir

The health effects of air pollution are now well established and backed up by research that shows that there are clear links between air pollution and negative health outcomes. A British Heart Foundation report from 2023, 'Air Pollution and Mortality on the Island of Ireland', highlighted the fact that 936 deaths in Northern Ireland were attributed to fine particulate matter air pollution, 314 of which were the result of circulatory diseases. More recently, in October 2025, a landmark study published by Queen's University Belfast estimated that over 130 lung cancer cases in Northern Ireland each year are attributable to air pollution. That is why I am driving the clean air strategy through to completion in this Assembly mandate. I look forward to getting Executive agreement for the strategy. The main pollutants of concern that affect air quality and human health in Northern Ireland are particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, ground-level ozone, sulphur dioxide, ammonia and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.