Written answers

Thursday, 7 May 2015

Department of Environment, Community and Local Government

Nitrates Action Programme Implementation

Photo of Arthur SpringArthur Spring (Kerry North-West Limerick, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

199. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government in view of the abolition of milk quotas, if he will consider extending the current derogation under the Nitrates Directive to 300 kilograms per hectare per year, targeted specifically at smaller farms with the ambition to expand. [17963/15]

Photo of Alan KellyAlan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The EU Nitrates Directive and Ireland's National Nitrates Action Programme limit the amount of nitrogen from livestock manure which may be applied to land each year, including by the animals themselves, to 170 kg of nitrogen per hectare per annum.

On 27 February 2014, after lengthy negotiation, the EU Nitrates Management Committee renewed Ireland’s derogation which enables farmers who meet strict conditions to increase this application limit to 250 kg of nitrogen per hectare per annum. This derogation was given effect by an EU Decision and is transposed into Irish law by the European Union (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) (Amendment) Regulations 2014.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.