Carol Nolan (Offaly, Independent)
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358. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if it is intended to bring forward a nitrates derogation action plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22213/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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Last August 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, including regulatory changes which have been implemented, a 70% capital investment grant aid slurry importation scheme, accelerated capital allowances for manure storage investment, a €60 million investment in conjunction with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage for the 'Farming for Water' European Innovation Partnership, continuation of the Agricultural Sustainability Support and Advisory Programme and Teagasc's multi-actor water quality advisory campaign to name a few.

This plan pulls together the significant work done by the Agriculture Water Quality Working Group along with other ongoing work that will help Ireland improve water quality and secure the Nitrates Derogation.

The Programme for Government builds on this work, clearly setting out the Government’s ambition to present the best case possible for continuance of Ireland's current derogation whilst working with farmers to deliver improvements in water quality.

As part of this, a Cabinet Committee on Water Quality chaired by An Taoiseach has been established to coordinate water quality improvements across all sectors and to work with farmers and industry to secure Ireland's Nitrates Derogation at EU level.

My Department and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage attend the EU Nitrates Committee meetings. At the December 2024 Nitrates Committee meeting, my Officials advised 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 170kg of livestock manure nitrogen per hectare 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 Directive’s objectives.

My Department and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage will continue to engage with the European Commission and other EU Member States over the coming months to ensure we get the best possible outcome for Ireland post-2025.