Public Consultation on 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 draft Sixth Nitrates Action Programme (NAP). The measures for the draft Sixth Nitrates Action Programme have been developed by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage in close collaboration with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM). It is recognised that further action is needed to protect and improve water quality and the suite of measures have been developed following recommendations from the Nitrates Expert Group and in consultation with stakeholders including the DAFM’s Agriculture Water Quality Working Group. 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 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 draft Sixth Nitrates Action Programme.

This document outlines the draft Sixth Nitrates Action Programme. The proposed measures are separated into two groups; those that require a regulatory basis under the GAP Regulations, and those measures that should be implemented on a non-regulatory basis.

Ireland’s NAP gives effect to the requirements of the Nitrates Directive (Council Directive 91/676/EEC). Its purpose is to prevent pollution of surface waters and groundwater from agricultural nutrients, and to protect and improve water quality. The Nitrates Directive requires Member States to develop a NAP every four years, and in Ireland, the regulatory elements of the NAP are given a statutory basis through the Good Agricultural Practice for the Protection of Waters Regulations.

The Minister is inviting members of the public to make submissions, observations and comments on the draft Sixth Nitrates Action Programme during the period from 28 October 2025 to 5pm 01 December 2025.

A copy of the:

• Draft Sixth Nitrates Action Programme,
• 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 Nitrates Consultation to make an appointment.

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

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.

Parallel consultations are being undertaken for the associated Strategic Environmental Assessment Environment Report and Natura Impact Statement , details of which can be found here:

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

NIS: Public Consultation on the Natura Impact Statement of the Draft Sixth Nitrates Action Programme 2026 - 2029

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.

Public Consultation on the draft Sixth Nitrates Action Programme - Submissions