John Brassil (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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139. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will extend the period of time for slurry spreading for a time of at least 30 days due to the adverse weather conditions experienced in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27589/16]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, 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 2014, as amended. 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.

Specified closed periods for the spreading of fertilisers, including slurry, are a key aspect of the Nitrates Regulations. They are a requirement of the Nitrates Directive and are mandatory in every Member State.  The closed periods in Ireland were decided following extensive consultation and were discussed with farming bodies and the European Commission when Ireland’s Nitrates Action Programme was being introduced. I have no plans at present to extend the spreading periods for organic fertilisers in 2016. The Programme will be reviewed again in 2017.