Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 October 2012
358. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government his views regarding the setback distances for chemical fertilisers and exemptions from the larger buffer distances that apply when spreading organic fertilizer or soiled water adjacent to sources of water for human consumption, 200/100/25 metres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41449/12]
View answerThe setback distances for chemical fertilisers and exemptions from the larger buffer distances that apply when spreading organic fertiliser or soiled water adjacent to drinking water abstraction points are set out in Ireland’s Nitrates Action Programme. This Programme is given effect by the European Communities (Good Agricultural Practice for the Protection of Waters) Regulations 2010.
The setback distance for the application of chemical fertiliser to land in the vicinity of a watercourse was increased to 2 metres in 2010 following a review of the first Nitrates Action Programme. This was on the recommendation of the independently chaired Expert Advisory Group that was appointed to advise on measures to be included in the current Programme. The prescribed distance of 2 metres is in line with similar requirements in England and Northern Ireland.
On the advice of the Expert Advisory Group, exemptions from prescribed buffer distances for the spreading of organic fertiliser or soiled water were also introduced following this review. The Group considered that the fixed buffer zone approach was not the most efficient in achieving the required protection of drinking water sources and that provision should be made for a case by case examination. Setback distances may only be decreased where a local authority has completed a technical assessment of conditions in the vicinity of an abstraction point. The technical assessment must be carried out in accordance with guidelines issued by the Environmental Protection Agency.
