Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
Link to this: Individually | In context

115. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is concerned by the impact of agricultural pollution on waterways; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55021/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

There is currently an unprecedented engagement right across the agri-food sector to reduce its impact on water quality.

My colleague Minister Browne's Department is responsible for the Nitrates Regulations. My Department works very closely with his Department on development of these Regulations, the associated Nitrates Action Programme and of course operation of the Nitrates derogation.

The current Nitrates Action Programme, introduced in 2022, is the most robust to date providing the strongest protections nationally for water quality from an agricultural perspective.

The next Nitrates Action Programme is due to apply from January 2026. My Department and Minister Browne's department have engaged with stakeholders through the Agriculture Water Quality Working Group on a list of impactful proposed measures from a water quality perspective for that Programme.

There has also been significant engagement across the agri-food sector over the last number of years in relation to improving water quality and it is vital that we continue this momentum.

The Nitrates Regulations form the baseline for reducing nutrient losses and improving water quality. However, beyond regulation incentives, industry support, as well as knowledge exchange and advisory services are also key aspects required to achieve improvements.

ASSAP, the Agricultural Sustainability Support and Advisory Programme provides free confidential water quality advice to farmers located in priority areas for action. There are now around 60 ASSAP advisers supporting farmers around the country.

The €60m 'Farming for Water' European Innovation Partnership under the CAP Strategic Plan is providing significant funding to incentivise farmers to target additional measures in priority areas.

Teagasc's 'Better Farming for Water' Campaign is promoting eight key actions for change related to nutrient, farmyard and land management, and many dairy co-ops have developed sustainability schemes which set standards for environmental protection, including water quality.

These actions highlight the level of ongoing work in relation to reducing nutrient losses from agriculture. However, it will take time before we see the full impact of these actions on water quality.