Press release
McConalogue publishes Nitrates Derogation renewal Plan - “Water and Agriculture, a collaborative approach”
From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Published on
Last updated on
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue T.D. has published the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s plan to progress his stated objective of retaining Irelands Nitrates Derogation post 2025.
Substantive actions outlined in the plan include:
• 50 ‘water quality advisors’ paid for by government and industry are providing a free service to farmers to improve water quality in priority areas.
• A €60 million euro innovation programme has been put in place to financially support actions by farmers.
• A ‘Better Farming for Water’ advisory programme has been put in place by Teagasc.
• The 70% Nutrient Importation Storage Scheme (NISS) will open for applications week commencing 19 August.
• A new and separate ‘exempted development’ threshold for ‘stand-alone’ nutrient storage will be provided for as part of a review of planning regulations, following the enactment of the Planning Bill.
• Sanction being sought from the Commission to apply a 60% grant and separate ceiling of €90,000 for farmers for nutrient storage from January 2025.
• Following the conclusion of the Nitrates Action Plan (NAP) review – further agreed measures will come into effect.
• DAFM to carry out environmental and economic assessments and modelling of impacts.
• Teagasc to conclude research into slurry and soiled water production.
• John Comer has been appointed as chair of the Agriculture Water Quality Group.
• Commission officials to visit Ireland in September 2024.
In May, Minister McConalogue, together with his colleague Minister O’Brien, under whose Department (Housing, Local Government and Heritage, DHLGH), the Nitrates regulations sit, brought a memo to cabinet outlining the on-going and future work to secure the renewal of Ireland’s Nitrates Derogation from 1st January 2026. On foot of this memo, a whole of Government approach in support of his Department’s efforts to see the derogation extended was secured.
Speaking today following the publication of the plan, Minister McConalogue said:
“A derogation is available to Ireland based on specific scientific criteria such as a long growing season. The Irish Government is committed to seeking a further derogation and delivery of improvements in water quality is a critical component of supporting this request. I have secured whole of government support on delivery of these twin objectives and that is why we need a whole of agriculture approach to water quality improvement.”
This plan pulls together all the significant work done to date by the Agriculture Water Quality Working Group (WQG), the additional measures under the Nitrates Action Programme (NAP) and the on-going projects that will help Ireland to improve water quality and secure the derogation.
The plan “Water and agriculture - a collaborative approach includes a range of measures under five key areas:
1. Regulatory measures.
2. Government financial support for farmers.
3. Government, industry and farmers working in tandem.
4. Further measures and actions.
5. Securing Ireland’s next nitrates derogation.
Minister McConalogue continued:
“Many actions under these five headings are already taking place, such as the reduction in chemical Nitrogen limits and the transition by all farmers to Low Emission Slurry Spreading. Other measures are new and will commence imminently. For example, the 70% capital investment grant aid for nutrient importation scheme (NISS), I introduced in Budget 2024, will open for applications this week. Sufficient slurry storage is vital to the effective use of organic nutrients and the protection of water courses. To further support and facilitate investment in nutrient storage, alongside the continued accelerated capital allowances I secured - that allow storage investments to be written off against tax over just two years - Government has secured approval from the European Investment Bank (EIB) for qualifying investments, in nutrient storage, to be automatically eligible for the green financing discount rate under the Government funded Growth and Sustainability Loan Scheme.
“To further enable farmers to build storage, I have secured agreement that following enactment of the new Planning regulations, a separate exempted development threshold will be introduced in respect of stand-alone manure storage facilities. I am also seeking to amend the Rural Development Programme and the CAP Strategic Plan to allow for a 60% grant rate and a dedicated €90,000 ceiling for nutrient storage investments. I am working to have this rate and ceiling in place for January 2025, subject to European Commission approval.”
On-going research and collaborative action amongst Government and industry is also detailed. In this regard, the Minister commented:
“I requested that Teagasc would lead a multi-actor water quality advisory campaign to deliver clear, simple and positive messaging to enhance both farmer and industry understanding of the agriculture pressures on water quality and the need for improvement. This has resulted in the “Better Farming for Water 8-actions for change” water quality advisory campaign. I want to acknowledge industry also who are not only engaging with the Government funded €60m Farming for Water EIP, I launched in March, but are spearheading their own water quality programmes too.
“It is such collaboration by all agri stakeholder partners that will see the dial turn for our water quality. I am pleased that a positive working partnership has really come together under the Agriculture Water Quality Working Group (WQG) I established in May 2023. Members have committed to a series of additional actions to improve water quality and I am confident that these will bear fruit in the very near future and that we will start to see improvements in Irish water quality from an agricultural perspective.
“I also want to welcome the appointment of a new chair of the WQG. The group from its next meeting will be chaired by John Comer. John is a highly respected farmer, past president of the ICMSA and his experience of policy, agriculture and involvement in the European Economic and Social Committee will be beneficial to the work of the committee. I thank John for stepping up to this important role.”
Minister McConalogue concluded by noting the importance of the role of the European Commission and other Member States saying:
“It is not within the gift of the Irish Government to renew the Derogation as it is applied at EU level. Commissioner Sinkevičius on his visit to Ireland, was clear that for Ireland to maintain the Nitrates Derogation that water quality that is good must remain stable and water quality that is less than good must show improvements. Further to this visit, I wrote to the Commissioner inviting his officials to visit Ireland in 2024 to see the progress being made to date on water quality by farmers and the agri-food industry overall. I am delighted to confirm that this visit will take place in September and work on a substantial itinerary is in train.
“It is by working together, all of us, the Government, farmers, industry and the EU Commission that the derogation will be secured into the future. This plan is recognition of what has already been done and steers us toward the progress that can be achieved through collaborative action.”
ENDS
The plan, Water and Agriculture – a collaborative approach, is available on the Department website: gov - Rural Environment & Sustainability - Nitrates (www.gov.ie)