Written answers

Wednesday, 12 October 2011

Department of Environment, Community and Local Government

Environmental Policy

7:00 pm

Photo of John O'MahonyJohn O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 130: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in view of the recent weather conditions if he intends to extend the date for the spread of slurry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29093/11]

Photo of Phil HoganPhil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The Nitrates Directive and Ireland's Nitrates Action Programme are given legal effect by the European Communities (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) Regulations 2010. 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 application of 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. In accordance with the requirements of the Nitrates Directive, the Regulations provide for periods when the 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.

The Irish Farmers Association has requested a deferral of the start of the closed period by 2 weeks, given the abnormally high rain fall during the month of September. I have considered this application in conjunction with my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. We recognise that the adverse weather conditions experienced in Ireland during September, in particular, have caused significant hardship for farmers and have made it extremely difficult to carry out regular farming activity. Consequently, I have decided, as an exceptional measure, to grant a two week extension to the period during which slurry may be spread, up to 31 October 2011.

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