Coveney launches public consultation on Ireland’s Nitrates Action Programme
The Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, Mr Simon Coveney, T.D. today (2 March 2017) announced the opening of public consultation in relation to the review of Ireland’s Nitrates Action Programme. The public consultation is being launched jointly by Minister Coveney and the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Mr. Michael Creed TD.
Ireland’s Nitrates Action Programme is given effect by European Union (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) Regulations 2014 (S.I. No. 31 of 2014). The regulations contain specific measures to protect surface waters and groundwater from nutrient pollution arising from agricultural sources. In accordance with the Nitrates Directive these regulations are due to be reviewed this year.
In opening this public consultation Minister Coveney said “protecting and maintaining water quality is a national priority and Ireland’s Nitrates Action Programme plays an important part in achieving this. This review of the Programme gives us an opportunity to ensure it is realising this objective as effectively as possible”.
The review is a key step in the preparation of regulations that will underpin Ireland’s fourth Nitrates Action Programme which will remain in place until 2021.
Minister Coveney added: “I look forward to hearing from a wide range of stakeholders during this important consultation process”.
The closing date for receipt of responses is 28 April 2017. The consultation paper can be downloaded from the Departments’ websites at www.housing.gov.ie and www.agriculture.gov.ie. Hard copies can be obtained on request from Water Quality Section, Department of the Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, Newtown Road, Wexford, tel: 053 9117487, e-mail: waterquality@housing.gov.ie
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