Heydon: 'Impactful measures' on water quality being developed for next NAP
That is according to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon, who has confirmed that officials from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage are currently working on the next NAP, which is due to apply from January 2026.
Minister Heydon told the Dáil yesterday (Thursday, July 3) that Ireland's current NAP "introduced significant changes and is providing the strongest protections to date nationally for water quality from an agricultural perspective".
However he was asked by the Cork North-Central TD, Pádraig O'Sullivan, if he was satisfied that the 6th NAP "would ensure no further erosion of the maximum organic manure limits from 220 kg N/ha".
According to Minister Heydon the government has a twin objective of "improving water quality and retaining Ireland's nitrates derogation post-2025".
"I am confident a combination of current and future measures under the NAP, combined with a continuation of the existing significant commitment and engagement by the entire agri-food sector will translate into improved water quality," the minister told Deputy O'Sullivan.
Minister Heydon also told the Dáil that the latest water quality monitoring report from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), published this week, showed a "significant reduction in nitrates levels in our rivers last year".
The EPA's 'Water Quality Monitoring Report on Nitrogen and Phosphorous Concentrations in Irish Waters 2024' provides an update on the results of water quality monitoring to support the assessment of the impact of the nitrates derogation on Irish waters.
However in the report the agency warned that 'nitrate concentrations remain too high in many parts of the country'.
The EPA also acknowledged that there was a 10% national reduction in river nitrate concentrations during 2024, 'with reductions observed in all regions'.
According to its analysis overall nitrogen levels in rivers also reduced nationally in 2024 compared to 2023.
Minister Heydon has warned that "having a robust NAP in place, is an essential component in our case to justify continuation of our nitrates derogation".
He said: "Along with my colleagues in government, I will continue to engage over the coming months with the objective of giving the commission the assurances it needs to justify granting a continuation of our nitrates derogation.
"Ultimately the European Commission will decide the conditionality attached to that derogation, including that maximum permitted stocking rates.
"However, in accordance with the Programme for Government, the government will continue doing everything in its power to make the case at EU level to secure the best outcome post-2025."
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