Dáil Éireann Debate, Friday - 6 September 2019
1909. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the regulations regarding the spreading of slurry; if there are specific distances from households that spreading is not permitted; his plans to introduce new rules in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35708/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe European Union (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) Regulations 2017 give legal effect in Ireland to the Nitrates Directive and to our Nitrates Action Programme (NAP). The Regulations focus, inter alia, on the management of livestock manures and other fertilisers. In accordance with the requirements of these regulations, all fertilisers (including slurry) must be stored and managed in a responsible manner to ensure the protection of water quality. The Regulations do not specify distances in relation to spreading fertiliser in proximity to dwellings. However, in order to protect water quality, they do include provisions regarding the required distances for spreading organic fertiliser from a surface watercourse, a borehole and a spring or well used for the abstraction of water for human consumption. Local authorities, under the supervision of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), are the authorities charged with the monitoring and enforcement of these regulations.
