The Department of the Environment (DOE or DOENI; Irish: An Roinn Comhshaoil;[3] Ulster-Scots: Männystrie o tha Kintraside) was a devolved Northern Irish government department in the Northern Ireland Executive.

The DOE's overall aim was to "work in partnership" with the public, private and voluntary sectors to promote the "economic and social welfare of the community" through "promoting sustainable development and seeking to secure a better and safer environment for everyone".

[5] The main policy responsibilities of the department were:[6] The DOE's main counterparts in the United Kingdom Government were: In the Irish Government, its main counterparts were: The Ministry of Home Affairs was established on the formation of Northern Ireland in June 1921 and was responsible for a range of non-economic domestic matters, including local government.

The process was known as devolution and was set up to return devolved legislative powers to Northern Ireland.

Devolution was suspended for four periods, during which the department came under the responsibility of direct rule ministers from the Northern Ireland Office: During the periods of suspension, the following ministers of the Northern Ireland Office were responsible for the department: