Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 288: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the zone in which Mayo is situated in respect of the nitrates directive implementation action plan submitted to the EU in April 2005; the effect this will have on the county; and the areas affected by it. [14839/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The implementation of the nitrates directive is a matter in the first instance for the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. For the purposes of the revised action programme, on which my Department has been consulted, Mayo is located in zone B as it was in the earlier version sent to the European Commission in October 2004. The provisions of the action programme will apply to all areas of the county. The general requirements proposed for zone B will include a minimum storage capacity on farms of 18 weeks and prohibitions on landspreading of chemical fertiliser from 15 September to 15 January, of organic fertiliser from 8 October to 15 January and of farmyard manure from 1 November to 15 January.