Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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10. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if the timeframe for farmers to spread slurry will be extended (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32200/16]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The European Union (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) Regulations 2014, as amended, give legal effect in Ireland to the Nitrates Directive and to our Nitrates Action Programme (NAP). The Directive requires all member states to define set periods when the land application of fertiliser, including slurry, is not allowed and in Ireland the closed season commenced on 15 October.

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 introduced. The provisions of the Regulations are underpinned by scientific research and good agricultural practice. The most recent scientific studies carried out on a diverse range of farm and soil types as part of Teagasc’s ongoing Agricultural Catchments Programme has provided further evidence in support of the efficacy of the prohibited spreading periods in reducing nutrient losses to waters.

Ireland faces considerable challenges in meeting the requirements of the Water Framework Directive to bring all waters back to good status at least. Taking those challenges and the evidence in support of the benefit of closed periods into consideration, I am not proposing any blanket variation at the present time to the terms of the NAP.

My Department and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) have closely monitored the situation and a number of farmers experiencing particular animal welfare concerns arising from an inability to spread slurry before 15 October were contacted by the DAFM who advised them of the appropriate action to take. I understand that a round 70 farmers were contacted by DAFM in this regard and the specific concerns have now been alleviated.