Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent)
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867. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there are plans to reduce organic nitration limits from 250kg to 220kg which effectively would mean reducing the stocking rates (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51546/22]

Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent)
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868. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason the reports regarding the reduced stocking rate limits which are causing much worry among farmers, is arguably not being led by science (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51547/22]

Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent)
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869. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the main effect of the reduced stocking rate will increase the cost of rent as farmers try to rent more land to reduce their stocking rate rather than reduce cow numbers (details supplied); if he will provide reassurance that he and his Department will continue to back an economically viable dairy industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51551/22]

Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent)
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870. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the huge increase in land rent that this measure will bring, if implemented, and will reduce the land available to tillage and forestry as these industries will be outcompeted by dairy (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51553/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 867 to 870, inclusive, together.

The competent authority for the 5^thNitrates Action Programme (NAP) in Ireland is the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH). My Department works closely with the DHLGH regarding the development and implementation of the NAP as well as the protection and improvement of water quality.

The 5^thNAP (implemented in Ireland through Statutory Instrument Number 113 of 2022 (as amended)) includes new and enhanced measures to help achieve water quality targets as well as providing for a significantly stronger focus on compliance and enforcement of the regulations.

At present Ireland is one of just four EU Members States that has been granted a Nitrates Derogation.

In granting Ireland an extension to its Nitrates Derogation covering the period 2022-2025, the European Commission included additional conditionality in its Implementing Decision. This additional conditionality includes the requirement for Ireland to conduct a two-year water quality review in 2023 comparing water quality data from 2021 with data from 2022. If this review results in a negative outcome for certain waters, the maximum stocking rate in the affected areas will drop from 250kg livestock manure nitrogen/hectare to a maximum of 220kg livestock manure nitrogen/hectare from 2024. In this scenario, impacted farmers will have a number of options at their disposal namely, one or a combination, of the following:

1. Acquire more land (owned, leased or rented) to allow them maintain livestock numbers

2. Export livestock manures to allow them maintain livestock numbers

3. Reduce livestock numbers

These are decisions that farmers will make and these decisions may have knock on impacts.

Teagasc conducted an initial assessment as part of the process of developing the 5^thNAP. My Department has asked Teagasc to update this assessment and to also model the impact of reducing the maximum stocking rate on derogation farms to 220kg livestock manure nitrogen/hectare. This work is expected to conclude shortly.

My Department will continue to support our farm families to ensure there is a bright future for them and the sector.