Noel O'Donovan (Fine Gael)

I want to raise an issue I spoke about some weeks ago when the Minister for agriculture was in the Chamber, the nitrates derogation. A specific issue has come to light in recent weeks in the Timoleague–Kilbrittain area of my constituency, Cork South-West. Farmers in the area have been farming to a stocking rate of 250 kg N/ha, but in the week before the Easter recess a map was released showing the rate for the area is to be reduced to 220 kg N/ha at the end of the year. That is really serious for the farmers in the area because they are farming progressively and trying to improve their farming methods. There is quite a specific set of results pertaining to the catchment area, and these come from work Teagasc is doing on monitoring the water quality there. They show continuous water-quality improvements in the area. I visited the catchment area and noted that you would feel quite happy to go into the river. You would have no issue with it, nor would you have one with drinking from the river. It is clear that farmers in the area are doing their very best to improve water quality but the reduction from 250 kg N/ha to 220 kg N/ha, proposed for the end of the year, will have a serious effect on their farming businesses.

We need to provide certainty to the farming community. The farmers I met are of a generation that wants its sons and daughters to enter the industry, but they are fearful because of the uncertainty that lies ahead. I understand the reduction to 220 kg N/ha later this year may have been proposed last year or the year before but we need to have intensive farming at 250 kg N/ha to show that our water quality levels are being maintained and improved. An early-indicators study recently showed that our water quality is at an eight-year high. I have submitted a Commencement matter on the issue and have invited the Minister for agriculture to the catchment area but my wish is that the Leader take the issue up with him also because it is quite a serious one for farmers in my area.