Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 April 2015
261. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding nitrates regulations and penalties being imposed in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14261/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department’s records indicate that in 2014, the amount of nitrogen from livestock manure applied to land on the holding of the person named above (including that deposited by animals was 180 kg per hectare. The limit set down in the Nitrates Regulations is 170 kgs of Organic Nitrogen per hectare per calendar year, unless an approved Nitrates Derogation is in place, which allows herdowners to farm up to 250 kgs of Organic Nitrogen per hectare, subject to stricter conditions.
The person named was issued with a Nitrogen & Phosphorous statement last month informing him of the nitrates position for 2014 and identifying that he had exceeded the limit. The person named did not avail of the Nitrates Derogation facility for 2014.
Processing of all cases in excess of the limits will take place over the coming months as all records submitted by farmers in relation to Nitrates limits are reviewed and if the person named still exceeds the 170 kg limit at that stage, a final decision letter will issue. If that is the case, he will, in that letter, be given the right of appeal to the Agriculture Appeals Office.
