I propose to take Questions Nos. 263 and 275 together.
I refer to the reply to Question No. 734 of 30 January 2002.
The nitrates directive has been substantially implemented in Ireland by way of extensive monitoring of nitrate levels in water, assessment of the trophic status of waters, the development and dissemination in 1996 of a code of good agricultural practice to protect waters from pollution by nitrates and by a range of other measures which operate to protect water quality against pollution from agricultural sources. These other measures include the provision of funding under schemes administered by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, such as the control of farmyard pollution scheme, the rural environment protection scheme and the farm waste management scheme to support expenditure by farmers on measures for pollution control and environmental protection.