Brian Stanley (Laois, Sinn Fein)
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366. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he plans to launch a code of good practice which will set out measures to reduce ammonia emissions over the coming years. [48901/19]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Following a consultative process earlier this year, the Code of Good Agricultural Practice for Reducing Ammonia Emissions from Agriculture was launched on Wednesday 20th November 2019 and can be found on my Department's website. www.agriculture.gov.ie/media/migration/ruralenvironment/climatechange/bioenergy/codeofgoodagpracticeammoniaemissions/1CodeofGoodAgriculturalPracticeforreducingAmmoniaEmissions081119.pdf.

The Code acts as a guidance document that outlines best practice actions to help reduce ammonia emissions from our farms.  Ammonia emissions arise principally from fertiliser and manure applications, animal feeding strategies, animal housing and manure storage and can have negative impacts on health and biodiversity.  Ireland has clear targets to deliver in terms of reduced ammonia emissions and the adoption and implementation of the voluntary measures outlined in this Code will reduce the risk of Ireland exceeding its ammonia emissions ceilings into the future.

My Department is already supporting delivery of actions within this guidance document through the provision of support for investments in technology such as Low Emission slurry application technology such as the trailing shoe and trailing hose. To date, my Department has approved over 2,000 applications under the TAMS II Scheme and has already paid approximately €19 million to farmers for this technology.

As agriculture is responsible for approximately 99% of ammonia emissions, it is vital that the agri-food sector continues to build on the good work achieved to date. The Code will support them in achieving this objective.