The role of my Department in the National Agricultural Inspection Programme has been to:
• Establish the programme under the 5th Nitrates Action Programme and give the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) oversight of the programme,
• Sit on the EPA-chaired National Agricultural Inspection Programme (NAIP) Working Group to ensure that all relevant current and emerging policy matters are considered, and
• Provide funding for resources for the EPA and local authorities.
In early 2022 discussions began between my Department and the EPA on the establishment of the NAIP. From these discussions the EPA agreed to lead on the oversight of the NAIP. In Q3 2022 the EPA established the NAIP Working Group. This group meets at least once per quarter and it is the main platform for engagement between EPA, my Department, the County and City Management Association (CCMA), local authority representatives, Inland Fisheries Ireland, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Local Authority Water Programme (LAWPRO) on the programme.
In 2022 and 2023 there has been engagement with the CCMA on the Review of Local Authority Natural Water Functions and Resources Committees and subcommittees. Subcommittee 1 focused on the resources required for the NAIP and my Department is represented on this subcommittee. The CCMA submitted the NAIP resource requirement for the NAIP to my Department for 57 additional staff. My Department allocated funding for 21 local authority staff in 2023 and is currently in the process of allocating funding for the remaining local authority resource requirement in 2024. Letters were issued in 2023 and 2024 from my Department notifying the CCMA of the funding allocations.
In 2024 as well as engaging with the EPA on the NAIP Working Group DHLGH will continue to engage with the EPA directly in terms of oversight and governance of the NAIP on a quarterly basis.
