Vol. 481 No. 1
46 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the plans, if any, he has to discourage the use of phosphate-based fertilisers in view of the role they play in enrichment and eutrophication of rivers and lakes. [15397/97]
The excessive use of phosphate based fertilisers is one of a number of contributors to the eutrophication of rivers and lakes. Responsibility for the implementation of legislation relating to water quality and waste management rests with my colleague the Minister for the Environment and Local Government and the various local authorities under the aegis of his Department.
The rural environment protection scheme (REPS), introduced in 1994, has a major role to play in reducing water eutrophication from agricultural sources. The main aim of REPS is to establish farming practices and controlled production methods which will prevent water pollution and promote habitat conservation and landscape protection. Among the REPS measures is a requirement to prepare a waste storage, liming and fertilisation plan for the farm. This provision of the scheme is specifically designed to protect and improve the quality of water resources by minimising nutrient losses.
My Department in conjunction with the Department of the Environment published a code of good practice to protect waters from pollution by nitrates in July 1996. This code prescribes methods to prevent or minimise the pollution of waters from nitrates by adopting certain farm waste and nutrient management techniques in the storage of organic wastes, silage, dungstead and farmyard manure and soiled water.
All farmers are advised to take account of its guidelines. Observance of the detailed advice and recommendations contained in the code will also make a significant contribution to a reduction in phosphorus losses from agriculture.
Teagasc has now drawn up revised phosphate recommendations and these will be incorporated into the Department's REPS specifications straightaway. In this context I would like to welcome the recently announced drive by Teagasc to improve water quality by persuading farmers to use significantly less quantities of phosphates.
I am confident that these measures will considerably reduce the incidence of eutrophication of rivers and lakes from agricultural sources. They are a significant contribution to the total quality management approach which the Irish agricultural industry needs to adopt more and more in all its sectors.
