A public consultation on the draft additional measures for the fifth Nitrates Action Programme (NAP) and the Natura Impact Statement (NIS) has been launched today (Monday, November 4).
The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien and the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, are seeking views, comments and also submissions on both the proposed NAP and the NIS.
The government has published an 85 page draft document setting out the proposed “additional measures for the fifth NAP” on the Department of Housing’s website.
The NAP “gives effect to the requirements” of Ireland’s nitrates directive and “is a critical piece of legislation to protect water quality from agriculture” according to the Department of Housing.
Following an interim review additional measures for the fifth NAP identified that “more action is needed to achieve improved water quality”.
The draft policy document includes a number of proposals including “additional measures setting limits for nutrient inputs onto agricultural land from livestock, which could result in intensive grazing or overgrazing by livestock”.
It also proposes additional measures “setting upper limits for stocking densities on grassland” and “additional measures regarding reseeding of grassland”.
It also sets out proposed “additional measures regarding the crude protein content of feedstuffs” and additional measures relating to limits for fertiliser application on agricultural land and application of nitrogen onto land.
One other key proposal included in the draft document is in relation to “additional measures relating to limits and measures regarding activities that can generate soil pollution”.
Public consultation
The public consultation will run from November 4, 2024 to 5p.m on December, 4 2024.
A separate four-week public consultation on the Strategic Environmental Assessment for the fifth NAP additional measures is also scheduled to start in mid-November.
Minister O’Brien believes that “it is clear that some additional measures are needed to improve and protect water quality”.
“However, we need to ensure that the additional measures are the right ones to deliver these necessary improvements.
“The public consultation process is an important step in ensuring those most affected are listened to and that the most appropriate measures are proposed. Therefore we invite and welcome all submissions”, the minister said.
The minister for agriculture, food and the marine also stressed today that “all farmers and agri sector stakeholders have a role to play in delivering on Ireland’s water quality goals”.
Minister McConalogue said: “It is such collaboration, as is being channelled through the Agriculture Water Quality Working Group I established in May 2023, that will see the dial turn for our water quality.
“These additional measures, in combination with the existing measures already being undertaken and embraced by farmers, are part of a whole of industry effort to deliver the required water quality improvements to secure a nitrates derogation into the future.”
Separately both ministers’ departments are also “working closely on developing and finalising” the sixth NAP, which is to be in place by January 1, 2026.
The sixth NAP must be in place before a vote on Ireland’s derogation renewal by member states can be held.