Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 September 2021
1593. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he plans to introduce a grant scheme for farmers who will be required to put in place waste water tanks separate from effluent holding tanks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42850/21]
View answerI presume the Deputy is referring to the ongoing review of Ireland’s Nitrates Action Programme (NAP). This gives effect to the requirements of the Nitrates Directive in Ireland and is a critical piece of legislation that all farmers implement on their farms including maximum fertiliser rates, manure storage requirements, periods when manures cannot be spread etc. No policy decisions have yet been made on changes to the requirements for farmers.
These regulations contain specific measures to protect against nutrient pollution arising from agricultural sources and this review will look at further practical ways that farmers can support this objective. The European Union (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) Regulations 2017 (S.I. No. 605 of 2017 otherwise now as the Nitrates regulations are subject to review every 4 years with this to be concluded by year end.
The current regulations expire at the end of 2021 and a new Nitrates Action programme must be published at the beginning of 2022 with the revised regulations to remain in place until 2025.
It is important for all stakeholders to contribute to this important review and a public consultation process is underway. The closing date for receipt of responses is 20th September 2021. The consultation paper can be downloaded from the Departments’ websites at www.gov.ie/housing and www.gov.ie/agriculture.
