Public Consultation on the Additional Measures for Ireland’s Fifth Nitrates Action Programme and the associated Natura Impact Statement

The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien, T.D., invites submissions, observations and comments on the additional measures for the Fifth Nitrates Action Programme and the associated Natura Impact Statement (NIS).

Ireland’s Nitrates Action Programme is given effect by European Communities (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) Regulations 2022 (S.I. No. 113 of 2022), as amended. The regulations contain specific measures to protect surface waters and groundwater from nutrient pollution arising from agricultural sources. The additional measures for the Fifth Nitrates Action Programme have been developed following an interim review, which identified that more action is needed to achieve improved water quality.

The purpose of this consultation is to seek the public’s view on the following documents:

• Proposed Additional Measures for the Fifth Nitrates Action Programme
• Natura Impact Statement

Proposed Additional Measures for the Fifth Nitrates Action Programme

This document outlines the proposed measures for the Fifth Nitrates Action Programme. An interim review of the Fifth NAP was undertaken by the Nitrates Expert Group. The interim review identified that additional measures were required to achieve improvements in water quality. The Nitrates Expert Group made recommendations on the additional measures to both the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine. The Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine sought feedback from the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine Agriculture Water Quality Working Group on the proposed additional measure. The proposed additional measures are separated into two groups, those that require amendments to the Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) Regulations (S.I. 113 of 2022, as amended) and those measures that can be implemented without regulatory amendments.

Natura Impact Statement

This NIS has been prepared to inform the Appropriate Assessment (AA) process required under the Habitats Directive and the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011. The Ecological Assessment Unit (EAU) will undertake the AA. The overall purpose of the AA process is to ensure that the proposed additional measures for the Fifth NAP does not result in any adverse effects on the integrity of any European sites in view of its conservation objectives and to detail proposed mitigation measures needed to avoid, reduce or eliminate likely effects on a European Site or adverse effects on the integrity of a European Site. The Ecological Assessment Unit shall have regard to any submissions or observations received during the public consultation and may subsequently determine that the plan shall, or shall not, adversely affect the integrity of a European site.

The NIS processes have been, and continue to be iterative, and are assisting in making the additional measures for the Fifth NAP more robust by fully integrating wider environmental considerations into the programme.

A separate four-week consultation process will be undertaken for the Strategic Environmental Assessment and will begin in mid-November.

The Minister is inviting members of the public to make submissions, observations and comments on the proposed additional measures for the Fifth Nitrates Actions Programme, and the Natura Impact Statement during the period from 4 November 2024 to 5pm 4 December 2024.

Submissions, comments and observations on the proposed additional measures for the Fifth Nitrates Action Programme :

A copy of:

• Proposed Additional Measures for the Fifth Nitrates Action Programme
• Privacy Statement

are all available for public inspection online and at the Custom House during office hours 9am – 5pm Monday to Friday excluding public holidays during the consultation period.

If you wish to view these documents in person please wau@housing.gov.ie with the subject Nitrates Consultation to make an appointment.

Submissions or observations on the proposed additional measures can be made either to wau@housing.gov.ie with the subject Nitrates Consultation or by post to:

Submissions, comments and observations in relation to the Natura Impact Statement for the additional measures for the Fifth Nitrates Action Programme

A copy of:

• Proposed Additional Measures for the Fifth Nitrates Action programme
• Natura impact Statement
• Privacy Statement

are all available for public inspection online and at the 90 North King Street Smithfield offices of the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Dublin 7, during office hours 9.15 to 5.30pm Monday to Thursday and 9.15am to 5.15pm on Fridays, excluding public holidays during the consultation period.

If you wish to view the documents in person, please eau@npws.gov.ie or call (01) 888 2052 and reference the consultation to make an appointment.

Submissions or observations in relation to the Natura Impact Statement can be made either to eau@npws.gov.ie or by post to:

These submissions will be considered by the Ecological Assessment Unit (EAU) and will inform a determination pursuant to Article 6(3) of the Habitats Directive and the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011-2021.

Please note that all submissions received may be made available on the Government’s website. See the consultation’s Privacy Statement under the Documents link for further information.

All submissions and comments submitted to the Department for this purpose are subject to release under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2014 and the European Communities (Access to Information on the Environment) Regulations 2007-2014. Submissions are also subject to Data Protection legislation.

Personal, confidential or commercially sensitive information should not be included in your submission other than your name or contact details. It will be presumed that all information contained in your submission is releasable under the Freedom of Information Act 2014.

The information provided by respondents will be used in order to refine and finalise the additional measures for the Fifth Nitrates Action Programme.

Please note that submissions and observations received will be made available on the Department’s website, unless otherwise requested. In any event, all submissions received will be subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act, Access to Information on the Environment Regulations and Data Protection legislation. See also the Privacy Statement under the documents linked below .