Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 569: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position in relation to a person (details supplied) in County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3400/07]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The EU Nitrates Directive aims to protect all waters against pollution from agricultural sources. Particular care is required for the protection of public health in the case of waters which serve as the source of drinking water. The European Communities (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) Regulations 2006 implement the Directive in Ireland and provide statutory support for good agricultural practice to protect waters against pollution from agricultural sources.

The Regulations include a prohibition on the application to land of organic fertilisers where the ground slopes steeply and where taking into account factors such as proximity to waters, soil condition, ground cover and rainfall, there is significant risk of causing water pollution. The Regulations also prohibit the application to land of organic fertiliser or soiled water within specified distances from drinking water abstraction points: in general the specified distance for larger sources is 200 metres and for smaller water sources is 100 metres. These distances are measured from the actual abstraction point. The specified distance from the edge of a lake is 20 metres. These general prohibitions are considered essential for the protection of sources of drinking water. However, under Article 17(5)(a) of the Regulations provides that a local authority may, in the case of any particular abstraction point and following consultation with the Environmental Protection Agency, specify an alternative distance where, following prior investigations, the Agency is satisfied that it is appropriate for the protection of waters being abstracted at that point.