Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 September 2023
241. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will engage with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in an effort to implement a reasonable degree of regulatory flexibility with respect to slurry spreading deadline of 1 October 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40955/23]
View answerIn accordance with the Good Agricultural Practice for the Protection of Waters Regulations, (SI 113 of 2022 as amended), the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, in consultation with me, last year agreed and published criteria to determine whether the period for slurry spreading could be extended beyond the 30th of September up to the 15th of October.
These scientific criteria were developed to ensure that any risk to water quality would be considered and that any delay in the closed period would only be granted where an assessment of the criteria indicates that a delay in the closed period does not represent a threat to water quality. These criteria are published at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/3f44d-good-agricultural-practice-regulations-exemption-criteria-for-the-closed-period-and-shallow-cultivation/.
In light of recent weather conditions my Officials have already engaged with Officials in DHLGH on this matter in line with the criteria as published. Minister O'Brien has agreed that extending the slurry spreading season for an additional seven days is justified in light of current conditions. Therefore, the closed period this year will now commence on the 8th of October. The need for any possible further extension will be considered in due course as the current weather situation evolves and in line with the published criteria.
