I propose to take Questions Nos. 867 to 870, inclusive, together.
The competent authority for the 5th Nitrates Action Programme (NAP) in Ireland is the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH). My Department works closely with the DHLGH regarding the development and implementation of the NAP as well as the protection and improvement of water quality.
The 5th NAP (implemented in Ireland through Statutory Instrument Number 113 of 2022 (as amended)) includes new and enhanced measures to help achieve water quality targets as well as providing for a significantly stronger focus on compliance and enforcement of the regulations.
At present Ireland is one of just four EU Members States that has been granted a Nitrates Derogation.
In granting Ireland an extension to its Nitrates Derogation covering the period 2022-2025, the European Commission included additional conditionality in its Implementing Decision. This additional conditionality includes the requirement for Ireland to conduct a two-year water quality review in 2023 comparing water quality data from 2021 with data from 2022. If this review results in a negative outcome for certain waters, the maximum stocking rate in the affected areas will drop from 250kg livestock manure nitrogen/hectare to a maximum of 220kg livestock manure nitrogen/hectare from 2024. In this scenario, impacted farmers will have a number of options at their disposal namely, one or a combination, of the following:
1. Acquire more land (owned, leased or rented) to allow them maintain livestock numbers
2. Export livestock manures to allow them maintain livestock numbers
3. Reduce livestock numbers
These are decisions that farmers will make and these decisions may have knock on impacts.
Teagasc conducted an initial assessment as part of the process of developing the 5th NAP. My Department has asked Teagasc to update this assessment and to also model the impact of reducing the maximum stocking rate on derogation farms to 220kg livestock manure nitrogen/hectare. This work is expected to conclude shortly.
My Department will continue to support our farm families to ensure there is a bright future for them and the sector.