Debate contribution: Loughs Agency: Value for Money

Debate contribution by Mr Timothy Gaston on 6 May 2025.

MLA: Mr Timothy Gaston
Party at the time: Traditional Unionist Voice
Date: 6 May 2025
Type: Debate contribution
Business: Oral Answers to Questions
Heading: Loughs Agency: Value for Money
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 4929603

Text

I thank the Minister for his answer. The answers to recent questions from me have exposed the fact that the Loughs Agency maintained three boardrooms yet secured zero prosecutions for illegal netting in 2022 and 2024 and very low numbers in other recent years. The commercial salmon fishery has been suspended for many years, yet the Department that once regulated that has a wage bill for 2024 of almost £1 million and other costs for that year of over £500,000. Is it the case that, even by the low bar of cross-border bodies, it is hard to justify the existence of the Loughs Agency?

104 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Part of an exchange

This follow-up belongs to: Oral question AQO 1931/22-27.

Assessment

Not analysed

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