Sixth Nitrates Action Programme (2026 – 2028) published

Programme focuses on nutrient management, knowledge transfer & advisory services, and compliance & enforcement, through a range of regulatory and non-regulatory measures

The Sixth Nitrates Action Programme (NAP) has now been published. The Sixth NAP runs from 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2028, and includes a focus on nutrient management, knowledge transfer & advisory services, and compliance & enforcement, through a range of regulatory and non-regulatory measures. The Good Agricultural Practice Regulations giving effect to the Programme have been signed by Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage James Browne TD and will be published on the Irish Statute Book in the coming days. These regulations contain measures to protect water from nutrient pollution arising from agricultural sources.

Ireland’s Nitrates Action Programme gives effect to the Nitrates Directive, which governs the management of nitrates in agriculture to protect groundwater, rivers, lakes, estuaries and coastal waters.

The Sixth Nitrates Action Programme was developed in close collaboration with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) and builds on the recommendations of the Nitrates Expert Group and engagement with the Agriculture Water Quality Working Group. This was followed by extensive public consultations, including on the Strategic Environmental Assessment Environmental Report and the Natura Impact Statement. The submissions to these public consultations are reflected in the final programme, published today.

The Sixth NAP builds on the progress made through the preceding programmes, and includes a suite of new regulatory and non-regulatory measures focused on reducing the loss of nutrients to water quality through better nutrient management and distribution.

These measures, along with the promotion of knowledge transfer and awareness, include requirements for:

• Increased focus on compliance and enforcement,
• Improved nutrient distribution on fragmented farms,
• Increased slurry and soil water storage capacity requirements,
• Expansion of DAFM’s organic nutrient movement database.

The Government continues to significantly invest in improvements to water quality programmes in line with the Water Action Plan. These programmes involve working with farmers to improve water quality and include the Agricultural Sustainability Support and Advisory Programme (ASSAP) in conjunction with the dairy industry, and the Farming for Water EIP, which provides funding to farmers for actions to protect water quality.

Continued collaboration between farming communities, the Local Authorities Water Programme (LAWPRO) and local authorities, Teagasc, advisors, agri-industry and EPA and will be key for continued protection of water quality over the duration of this plan. The collective strengths of these organisations will be harnessed to target the right measures in the right place to improve water quality over the duration of this plan.

A link to the final programme can be found at https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/publications/sixth-nitrates-action-programme/

ENDS

NOTES TO THE EDITOR

In addition to continuing measures introduced under the Fifth NAP, the Sixth NAP includes the following measures:

Regulatory measures

• Nutrient balance at individual farm level (‘know your number’);
• Improved nutrient distribution on fragmented farms;
• Increased slurry and soiled water storage capacity requirements;
• Chemical nitrogen allowances for grassland;
• Timing of nutrient application for arable crops;
• Expansion of DAFM’s organic nutrient movement database;
• Continued and increased focus on compliance and enforcement, and the National Agricultural Inspection Programme; and
• Overall review of the GAP Regulations.

Non-regulatory measures

• Expansion of the Agricultural Sustainability Support and Advisory Programme (ASSAP);
• Continuation of Farming for Water European Innovation Partnership (EIP) for the duration of the Sixth NAP;
• Knowledge transfer and awareness raising for both farmers and farm advisers;
• Research on Mehlich soil analysis to better quantify plant available nutrients;
• Research on cover crop establishment; and
• Continuation of Teagasc’s Agricultural Catchments Programme.