Mr. Feargal Ó Coigligh:

Regarding rural group water schemes, any entity that abstracts water will come within the remit of the scheme. There are no particular exemptions. If a scheme is further than the registration threshold, which it undoubtedly would be, it requires licensing. That is the case.

Similarly with farmers, if they breached the abstraction limits of 25 cu. m, they would be obliged to register.

On the issue of the cumulative effects, the registration and licensing system is required to give us more information. There is a paucity of information about the impact of abstractions. As I stated earlier, 6% is what the EPA considers. As we introduce and develop the system, there will be an increased amount of information. That will then inform the EPA as to how to judge cumulative effects. If it gets additional information about a water volume that might be under stress, then that will bring to its attention whether particular abstraction points add to pressure. It is part of building a picture and we do not have the full picture at the moment.

With regard to abstraction for horticulture, similarly, if they reach their thresholds, they must register and obtain a licence. It is important to note that producers also have obligations under food safety standards in terms of the production of safe products. There would be separate health and food safety rules for producing food. The water quality for crop irrigation is absolutely crucial and it must be ensured that the water is not contaminated in a way that would affect food production. It is similar to public water supplies where the EPA is responsible for environmental monitoring and ensuring that local authorities, Irish Water and others adhere to environmental limits. The HSE also has a role in ensuring that water is safe from a public health point of view. Accordingly, boil water notices will issue where the HSE considers water is unsafe. There is a dual role. Similarly for food producers, they have dual obligations to meet.

On the IFA and the ICMSA, I do not have a breakdown between the two submissions. I know, however, that the farming sector was anxious to avoid the threshold limits being reduced, for example, from 25 cu. m to a lower limit. They would have made those points clear in their submissions. While there is a different emphasis between the two, I cannot quote them exactly. We will put the submissions on the Department's website, as promised to Deputy Ó Broin.