Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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222. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will extend the current slurry-spreading season; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50218/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The European Union (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) Regulations 2017 (S.I. 605 of 2017) give legal effect in Ireland to the Nitrates Directive and to our Nitrates Action Programme (NAP). The Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage is the lead Department in this regard.

The Directive requires all Member States to define set periods when the land application of fertiliser is not allowed.This is referred to as the closed period. The Regulations do not provide for any extension to the closed period.

Research from the Agricultural Catchment Programme shows that nutrient loss is twice as likely during the closed period as at any other time of the year, thus having an adverse effect on water quality. Nutrients running off farmland into water and groundwater is one of the principal risks to Ireland’s water quality.

There are currently no plans to extend the slurry spreading season.