Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 473: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if a ban on farm animals having access to drinking points along rivers will be part of the Rural Development Plan 2007 to 2013; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4178/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The European Commission has identified water quality as one of the priorities to be addressed by Member States during the new rural development programming period.

In REPS 4, which is part of Ireland's proposed Rural Development Programme, it is proposed that bovines will not be prevented from having access to drinking water at drinking points along watercourses. However, they will be excluded from entering watercourses. The aim of the proposal is to minimise pollution risks associated with animals having uncontrolled access to watercourses.