Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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1705.To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures he intends to take to increase the use of protected urea; the impact of making it the only allowable fertiliser option; the amount of urea or CAN used in 2023 or 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32983/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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In 2023 at farm level there was a 30% reduction in national chemical nitrogen use overall compared to the baseline figure for 2018. This reduction built on the reduction achieved in 2022 and is very welcome in terms of water and air quality as well as greenhouse gas emissions.

The amount of CAN and protected (stabilised) urea sold in terms of tonnes of nitrogen (N) nationally in 2022 and 2023 was as follows.

My Department engages with industry on an ongoing basis regarding improving the sustainability of Irish agricultural production. As part of this process, I recognise that many of our dairy processors have introduced sustainability bonuses around protected urea. Teagasc advice around chemical nitrogen use and formulation is also key and earlier this year at my request, Teagasc introduced their Better Farming for Water campaign which has eight actions for change including reducing chemical nitrogen use.

The Climate Action Plan identifies the need to explore policy options to increase the use of protected urea in place of CAN. I will continue to support the industry in making these changes.

Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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1706.To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the requirements in place to ensure a greater proportion of clover is included in the sward, or multispecies swards are sown; the measures he has in place to incentivise these options; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32984/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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It is critically important that supports put in place assist farmers in reducing chemical nitrogen usage while at the same time ensuring the production of fodder is not unduly impacted. Clover and multi species sward are two important means of ensuring this.

I have introduced a number of schemes to support farmers, including two measures - the Red Clover Silage Measure (RCSM) and Multi Species Sward Measure (MSS) to help offset the cost of purchasing seeds. I introduced these in 2022 and now the two measures are in the third year of support with a budget of €2.5 million in both 2023 and 2024. The number of applicants and the area applied for has increased since the measures were introduced.

These schemes are a really important example of how farmers are willing to try new means of producing fodder with less chemical nitrogen to ensure the continued sustainable growth of Irish agriculture.

Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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1707.To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures under way to improve water quality due to nitrates runoff to comply with the nitrates directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32985/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Over the last two years new and enhanced regulatory measures have been implemented under the Nitrates Action Programme (NAP) to improve water quality, including:

• a 10% cut in maximum chemical Nitrogen fertiliser limits for grassland;
• shallow cultivation post-harvest for tillage farmers in 14 counties where reductions in nitrates loses are required;
• banding of dairy cow nutrient excretion rates based on milk yield since 2023;
• mandatory soil sampling of all arable land and all grassland on farms with a grassland stocking rate above 130 kg livestock manure nitrogen per hectare (N/ha) since 2023; and
• Low Emission Slurry Spreading is now required for all pig slurry and all farmers with a grassland stocking rate above 130 kg N/ha. From 2025 this becomes mandatory for all farmers with a grassland stocking rate above 100 kg N/ha.