Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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147. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will extend the dates for the spreading of slurry and farmyard manure in view of the significant grass cover on land, exceptional ground conditions and the fact that 20% of farms have a fodder deficit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42933/13]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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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 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 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.

On 22 May 2013 my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and I announced measures to alleviate the crisis in fodder availability caused by poor Spring weather conditions. These included a two week extension of the spreading season for chemical fertilisers from the 15 September to the 30 September to address the potential fodder shortage during the coming winter.

In view of these measures and of the prolonged period of favourable weather that has prevailed this summer, no extension to the spreading periods for organic fertilisers is proposed.