Government aims for nitrates derogation by 2006

ENVIRONMENT minister Dick Roche says Ireland's aim is to have a Nitrates Directive derogation agreed with the EU Commission and in place by mid-2006.

The government is seeking EU approval for up to 250 kg of nitrogen from livestock manure per hectare.

In the meantime, the submission of Ireland's new National Action Programme limits livestock manure application to 170 kg of nitrogen per hectare, and requires farmers to have adequate manure storage capacity installed by December 31, 2006, on pig and poultry farms, and December 31, 2008, on other farms.