Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 January 2018
1163. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the conditions attached to the recent renewal of Ireland's nitrates derogation 2018 to 2021; the measures he plans to implement to mitigate the negative impact of the conditions on the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55130/17]
View answerThe process of reviewing Irelands Nitrates Action Programme took place over much of 2017 under the remit of the Department of Housing Planning and Local Government. The review took place against the backdrop of an expanding national dairy herd and a slight disimprovement in water quality over the previous monitoring period.
From the outset the ambition was to ensure a balanced Nitrates Action Programme supporting efficient farming and also protecting and improving water quality. The successful negotiation of the continuation of Ireland's derogation was also a key priority for this Department.
In December 2017 Ireland secured a positive vote on the renewal of our nitrates derogation for the period 2018-2021 on the basis of a strengthened set of water protection measures. This contrasts with other EU Member States which have had severe difficulties in negotiating a successful renewal of their derogations.
The derogation allows herdowners farm at a more intensive stocking rate than normally allowed, subject to complying with specific conditions. The derogation is highly important in order to facilitate continued expansion of the dairy sector and for achievement of the targets set out in FoodWise 2025. There are additional conditions for derogation farmers to comply with which will improve on farm efficiency and contribute to the continued international recognition of the environmental sustainability of Irish agriculture which is vital in the context of significant agricultural exports in a competitive world market.
In order to be eligible to apply for a derogation farmers must have sufficient livestock manure storage. Storage requirements have been mandatory since the introduction of the Nitrates regulations a decade ago.
Half of all slurry produced on a derogation farm must be applied by 15 June annually. After this date slurry may only be applied using low emission equipment. Farmers are increasingly utilising their manures to greatest effect applying a greater percentage in the spring time. The condition further supports that move but also takes account of the fact that agriculture is responsible for 98% of ammonia emissions and that the nitrogen loss from slurry to the atmosphere through ammonia volatilisation in the summer is almost twice that of slurry applied in the spring time. Slurry application by Low Emission Slurry Spreading (LESS) equipment reduces losses by 30% compared to application by splash-plate and reducing ammonia losses results in increased nitrogen uptake by grass. These measures will play an important role in improving efficiency, and reducing nutrient losses to air and water on the more intensively stocked derogation farms, against a backdrop of increase numbers of such farms.
Farmers can also apply for grant assistance for the purchase of LESS equipment under the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS) and secure funding of 40% of the cost- rising to 60% for young trained farmers. Applications to date for this scheme have been very strong and have exceeded expectation indicating that farmers are embracing this technology.
It is critically important that we achieve the objective of improved water quality in a balanced and proportionate manner securing the long term development ambitions for the industry and avoiding the challenges that are now being faced in some other Member States. The current programme and derogation conditions aims to achieve these twin objectives.
