James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 933: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will extend the slurry spreading period due to meteorological and other conditions in view of the fact that the heavy rain in summer 2009 has left farmers unable to complete slurry spreading by the deadline; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38028/09]

Michael D'Arcy (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 942: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will extend the date for the spreading of farmyard manure and slurry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38279/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 933 and 942 together.

I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 158, 265 and 290 of 14 October 2009.

The Nitrates Directive and Ireland's National Nitrates Action Programme are given legal effect by the consolidated European Communities (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) Regulations 2009. The objective of the Regulations is to protect ground and surface waters, including drinking water sources, primarily through the management of livestock manures and other fertilisers.

Good agricultural practice involves the land spreading of organic fertilisers as early as practicable in the growing season in order to maximise the uptake of nutrients by crops and to minimise pollution risks to water courses and groundwaters. In accordance with the requirements of the Nitrates Directive, the Regulations include provisions regarding periods when the land application of certain types of fertilisers is prohibited. In addition, the Regulations prohibit such application at any time of the year when the ground is frozen, waterlogged or heavy rain is forecast.

In view of the prolonged period of favourable weather that prevailed prior to the deadlines, the risk to water quality posed by an extension to the periods for land spreading and the major investment on the part of the State and farmers in the provision of adequate waste storage facilities in recent years, the question of an extension to the periods for spreading organic fertilisers does not arise.