To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs what assessment his Department has made of air quality in the South Antrim constituency.

Air pollution can have a serious effect on people's health. It also has negative impacts on our environment.

In Northern Ireland, District Councils are responsible for reviewing the state of air quality in their district. They do this through monitoring air quality at a number of sites throughout Northern Ireland and the Department provides financial assistance to support this monitoring network.

The air quality within the South Antrim constituency is monitored with a network of nitrogen dioxide diffusion tubes managed by Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council. Local councils produce an annual report on the quality of air within their district. The 2019 report for Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council can be found on the Northern Ireland Air website at www.airqualityni.co.uk/laqm/district-council-reports.

For information specifically regarding these AQMAs, I recommend that you contact Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough council.