Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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219. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if the proposed upcoming changes to the nitrates action programme will be altered to include changes to regulations on the run-off of clear water from dairy hygiene; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35440/21]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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220. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the proposals that are being considered for the upcoming review of the nitrates action programme; when a decision will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35441/21]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 219 and 220 together.

A review of Ireland's Nitrates Action Programme is currently under way. A first round of public consultation was held last year and I anticipate that the second public consultation will commence in the coming weeks. My Department, working with officials from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, are currently finalising a consultation document having met recently with various key stakeholders.

It is clear from our current water quality trends that significant reductions in nutrient losses from agriculture to water are urgently needed to protect our water environment and meet our legal obligations.

In partnership with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine, Deputy McConalogue, I launched an initial public consultation on this 5th review of Ireland’s Nitrates Action Programme on 25 November 2020. This initial consultation formed part of a roadmap and set out a number of current and future issues to be considered as part of the review. This consultation received over 100 responses, which have been carefully considered by the Nitrates Expert Group, co-chaired by my Department and the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine.

A second public consultation was envisaged in the roadmap that was published in November 2020. This second consultation document will incorporate the information received during the initial consultation stage, along with additional research outputs and up to date water quality data from the Environmental Protection Agency and Teagasc. The consultation will include details of the proposed measures being considered as part of the next Nitrates Action Programme.