James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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550. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is satisfied that there is sufficient regulation for the large-scale storage of slurry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6653/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The European Union (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) Regulations 2014 govern the storage of slurry, on a holding, large scale or otherwise. The Department of Housing Planning Community and Local Government is the lead Department for these regulations otherwise known as the Nitrates Regulations.

These regulations govern the storage of slurry and manures of animal origin.

Under Article 7 (1) of these regulations, storage facilities for livestock manure and other organic fertilisers, soiled water and effluents from dungsteads, farmyard manure pits or silage pits shall be maintained free of structural defect and be maintained and managed in such manner as is necessary to prevent run-off or seepage, directly or indirectly, into groundwater or surface water, of such substances.

The said regulations stipulate that farm holdings shall provide on the holding for a minimum storage capacity for slurry (cattle) of either 16, 18, 20 or 22 weeks, depending on the location of the holding.

All storage facilities shall be of such construction and design, and shall be maintained and managed in such a manner as so as to prevent their contents gaining entry into surface water or groundwater.

It should be noted however, that the storage of slurries of non-animal origin such a sludges, municipal or otherwise, are not a matter for this Department.

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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551. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there are sufficient regulations for the transfer of large-scale slurry from one county to another; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6655/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The European Union (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) Regulations 2014 govern the storage and end use of slurry and manures of animal origin. The Department of Housing Planning Community and Local Government is the lead Department for these regulations otherwise known as the Nitrates Regulations.

Under these regulations, it is permissible to import or export organic manures and slurry into or out of a holding, subject to records of quantities, type, date, details of exporters and importers being maintained and forwarded to this Department. This also applies to the importation onto a holding of slurry of non-animal origin such a sludges, municipal or otherwise.

It should be noted however, that regulations governing the transfer of slurry of non-animal origin such as sludges, are not a matter for this Department.