Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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63. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his plans to introduce limits on grazing platform stocking rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40698/20]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The European Union (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) Regulations, SI No. 605 of 2017, as amended, sets out the requirements for farmers in the current Nitrates Action Programme (NAP). This includes measures that must be undertaken by farmers at various grassland stocking rates.

In partnership with the Minister For Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue TD, I have recently launched a public consultation on the 5^threview of Ireland’s Nitrates Action Programme. This review is being led by the Nitrates Expert Group, which includes scientific experts from my own Department, the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine, Teagasc and the Environmental Protection Agency. The Nitrates Expert Group will assess the available information, including public submissions, water quality monitoring data and the most up to date scientific evidence, and will advise my Department on the measures that should be included in the next NAP. A comprehensive list of topics for consideration has been included in the current public consultation document and these will form the basis for the review.

At this early stage of the review process, no decisions have been made on any measures that may be included in the next NAP, including placing any limits on grazing platform stocking rates.

A copy of the public consultation is available on my Department’s website at www.housing.gov.ie.