Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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950. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farms that availed of the nitrates directive derogation by county in each year since 2016, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20248/20]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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In December 2017, Ireland secured a renewal of its nitrates derogation for the period 2018 – 2021 on the basis of a strengthened set of water protection measures. There is an obligation to review Ireland's Nitrates Regulations in 2021 and the Nitrates derogation will be considered as part of this review.

Ireland conducted a voluntary interim review in 2019 to examine further opportunities for derogation farmers to improve efficiencies and continue to reduce their environmental footprint with particular regard to water, climate and air quality. The measures in Ireland’s nitrates derogation take account of the growing numbers of derogation farmers who are farming at intensive stocking rates and also environmental objectives for water, climate change and ammonia which Ireland must achieve. Furthermore, opportunities for large savings on farms through better grassland management and improved timing and application of fertiliser are taken into account.

All derogation farm holdings are subject to strict controls.

Attached is a record of nitrate derogation applications per county from 2016 - 2020 inclusive.

Number of Nitrate Derogation Applications per County in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 & 2020