asked the Minister for the Environment the precautions being taken in the light of the expected increase in silage making to protect our fresh water environments from pollution due to silage effluent during the summer of 1986.
Written Answers. - Control of Water Pollution.
69.
It is a matter in the first instance for each local authority to take whatever measures they consider necessary to prevent water pollution. The authorities have power under section 12 of the Local Government (Water Pollution) Act, 1977, to serve notices on any person having custody or control of any pollution matter, such as silage effluent, specifying measures to be taken within a stated period to prevent pollution occurring.
My Department have sought to create greater awareness of the dangers posed to our water resources by certain agricultural practices, particularly silage making. The Department have regularly impressed on local authorities the importance of increased co-operation with bodies such as the fisheries boards, ACOT, tourism and farmer organisations in order to highlight and deal with pollution risks associated with these practices. The efforts of the Department in this regard will be continued during 1986.
Local authorities may avail of their powers under the Local Government (Planning and Development) Acts to impose conditions designed to protect the environment on certain agricultural developments. While the making of silage may constitute exempted development, the Local Government (Planning and Development) (Exempted Development and Amendment) Regulations, 1984, limit any exemption to cases in which, inter alia, adequate effluent storage facilities are provided. In addition, these regulations limit the amount of exempted development which may take place in any farmyard complex.
A manual is being prepared to provide advice and guidance for local authorities, farmers and all other agencies involved with agricultural development. The Departments of Agriculture and Tourism, Fisheries and Forestry as well as An Foras Forbartha, An Foras Talúntais, ACOT, and the Central Fisheries Board are assisting in drafting the manual. Information on essential requirements for the control of water pollution from silage making is already contained in the Department of Agriculture's "Guidelines and Recommendations on Control of Pollution from Farmyard Wastes" which was revised and issued late last year. These guidelines will be applied by the farm development service of the Department of Agriculture to determine whether proposals for walled silos and silage slabs should qualify for assistance under the new scheme of structural aids for agriculture.