Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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388. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will extend the slurry spreading season on a one-off basis in 2023 to allow for spreading of slurry should the weather allow for it (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43654/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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On the 21st of September a seven day extension to the slurry spreading period was announced by me and the Minster for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. This allowed slurry spreading take place until the 7th of October 2023.

Last week, on the 4^thof October, following agreement with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, a further one week extension to the spreading period was announced with the closed period for 2023 now commencing on the 15th of October.

The decisions regarding both of these extensions were made in accordance with the provisions set out in Article 19 (1) of SI No. 113 of 2022 (as amended) and the relevant published criteria which are available at the following link: gov.ie - Good Agricultural Practice Regulations Exemption Criteria for the closed period and shallow cultivation (www.gov.ie)

Due to the associated risk from a water quality perspective, there is no provision in the Regulations (SI No 113 of 2022, as amended) to extend the slurry spreading period beyond the 14th of October.