Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail)
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323. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the arrangements in place for remuneration and compensation for loss of earnings to landowners due to the introduction of SI 31 of 2014 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18620/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Ireland's Nitrates Action Programme is given effect by the E.C. Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters Regulations 2014, commonly known as the Nitrates or GAP Regulations. The lead authority for these regulations is the Department for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government.

The purpose of the regulations is to protect surface waters, including drinking water sources, primarily through the management of farmyards and the application of  livestock manures and other fertilisers in accordance with good practice and to meet crop requirements.

In order to protect human health, buffers are established regarding the distance within which livestock manure may be applied adjacent to an abstraction point of water for human consumption. There is provision within the regulations to adjust these buffers on the basis of a technical assessment which deals with relevant factors such as soil and subsoil type, water quality evidence, risk to human health etc. A 2 m buffer applies in relation to the application of chemical fertiliser. Such assessments are a matter for the local authority under the guidance of the Department of Planning, Housing and Local Government.