To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to detail the current target for ensuring that Areas of Special Scientific Interest are in, or approaching, a favourable condition.

There is no current target within my Department for ensuring that ASSIs are in, or approaching, a favourable condition. We report ASSI condition annually through the Northern Ireland Environmental Statistics Report.

My Department is continuing to work with landowners and other stakeholders to ensure that sympathetic management of ASSIs is in place. A range of delivery mechanisms are in place to achieve this objective. These include agri-environment schemes (EFS), EU Interreg Va Programme, the management of the DAERA estate and grant-aid support from DAERA, in addition to direct funding by NIEA through the Management of Sensitive Sites scheme (MOSS).