Mr. Jack Nolan:

I am part of the NIS working group that is looking at farm inspections with the local authorities and the EPA. We are trying to ensure that local authorities are fully cross-reporting any problems they identify on the ground. There is a facility there that will make the job easier for local authority inspectors that is not being availed of at the moment. We know there is a high level of non-compliance with the slurry storage requirement on dairy farms. This is a particular issue that has been highlighted by the Department and by farmers themselves over the past year. There is no individual non-compliance that we can point to that will be a silver bullet and improve water quality. We need to improve in every area and that will contribute to improving water quality.

We have found that farms that have expanded greatly over the past number of years may not have invested enough in farmyard facilities. There is an increasing spotlight on that. That situation will improve over the coming period and that will contribute to improving water quality.