Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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615. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers availing of the nitrates derogation; the total number of cattle in the herds of those farmers; the total hectarage on which basic payment was claimed, that is, grassland per county from January 2022 to date, in tabular form. [24459/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The information requested is detailed in the attached table.

It should however be noted that the land area for 2023 is not yet available as the 2023 Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) Scheme is open for applications until the 29th of May 2023.

Processing of 2023 Nitrates Derogation applications is still on-going, as are compliance checks for 2022 applicants. The outcome of these checks will determine the number of farmers finally awarded a Nitrates Derogation in the respective year.

It should also be noted that the increase in the numbers of farmers applying for a Nitrates Derogation in 2023, compared to 2022, is considered to be primarily due to changes in the calculation of dairy cow nutrient excretion rates applicable from January 2023.

/ie/oireachtas/debates/questions/supportingDocumentation/2023-05-23_pq615-23-05_en.xlsx">Nitrates