Noel McCarthy (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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1293. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to outline the current actions being taken by his Department with regard to the possible retention of the nitrates derogation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12578/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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Firstly, the Government has moved to establish a Cabinet Committee on Water Quality chaired by the Taoiseach to coordinate water quality improvements across all sectors and work with farmers and industry to secure Ireland's nitrates derogation at EU level. This demonstrates the governments commitments to both water quality and retention of the nitrates derogation post 2025.

In August last year my department published the Nitrates Derogation renewal plan 'Water and Agriculture - A collaborative Approach' . This plan includes a range of measures under five key areas. This includes changes to regulation which have been implemented, a 70% capital investment grant aid slurry importation scheme, accelerated capital allowances for manure storage investment, a €60 million investment made in conjunction with Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage for the 'Farming for Water' EIP, continuation of ASSAP and the Teagasc led multi-actor water quality advisory campaign to name a few.

My department attends the EU Nitrates Committee meetings and at the December 2024 Nitrates Committee meeting, my department advised the EU Nitrates Committee, that in accordance with Paragraph 2 (b) within Annex 3 of the Nitrates Directive, Ireland wished to apply for permission to continue applying in excess of 170 kg of livestock manure N per ha from 2026, subject to a set of conditions that will ensure that application is scientifically justified and will continue to contribute to the achievement of the Nitrates Directives objectives of reducing and preventing water pollution caused by agricultural nutrients. Since then there have been three bilaterals with the European Commission and Ireland will make its 1st presentation for renewal of the nitrates derogation shortly.

My department and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage will continue to engage with the Commission to ensure we get the best possible outcome for Ireland post 2025.