Public Consultation on the SEA Environmental Report in relation to the draft Sixth Nitrates Action Programme

The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne, T.D., invites submissions, observations and comments on the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Environmental Report in relation to the draft Sixth Nitrates Action Programme (NAP).

Ireland’s current Fifth Nitrates Action Programme is given effect by the 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. Once the measures for the Sixth NAP are finalised, the current Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters (GAP) Regulations will be revoked and replaced with new Regulations to implement the regulatory measures in the Sixth NAP

The purpose of this consultation is to seek the public’s views on the following document:

• SEA Environmental Report

The draft Sixth NAP documents which are the subject of the Strategic Environmental Assessment and also open to public consultation can be found on the government website.

• Draft Sixth Nitrates Action Programme
• Draft Good Agricultural Practice for the Protection of Waters Regulations

The privacy statement explains how personal data provided in public consultation responses will be processed.

• Privacy Statement English
• Privacy Statement Gaeilge

The purpose of the SEA Environmental Report is to inform the development of the measures for the Sixth NAP, identify describe and evaluate the likely significant effects of the implementation of the proposed measures and reasonable alternatives; and provide an opportunity for the statutory authorities and the public to offer views on any aspect through consultation.

This SEA Environmental Report complies with the requirements of the Directive 2001/42/EC on the assessment of the effects of certain plans and programmes on the environment (the SEA Directive) as implemented in Ireland through the European Communities (Environmental Assessment of Certain Plans and Programmes) Regulations (S.I. No. 435/2004) as amended.

The SEA process has been, and will continue to be, iterative; and assists in making the measures for the Sixth NAP more robust by fully integrating wider environmental considerations into its development.

A concurrent four-week consultation process is being undertaken for the Natura Impact Statement by the Ecological Assessment Unit (EAU) of the National Parks and Wildlife Service.

The Minister is inviting members of the public to make submissions, observations and comments on the SEA Environmental Report, in relation to the draft Sixth Nitrates Action Programme during the period from 31 October 2025 to 5pm 01 December 2025.

Copies of the:

• SEA Environmental Report
• Natura Impact Statement
• Draft Sixth Nitrates Action Programme 2026-2029
• Draft Good Agricultural Practice for the Protection of Waters Regulations, and
• 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 email WAUConsultation@housing.gov.ie with the subject SEA Nitrates Consultation to make an appointment.

Submissions or observations can be made either to WAUConsultation@housing.gov.ie with the subject SEA Nitrates Consultation or by post to:

SEA Nitrates Consultation

Water Advisory Unit

Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Custom House,

Dublin 1

D01 W6X0

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 Sixth Nitrates Action Programme and prepare the SEA Statement and final Natural Impact Statement.