The Sixth Nitrates Action Programme (NAP), running from January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2028, has been published by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
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 Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s organic nutrient movement database.
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 yesterday, December 9.
Announcing the publication of the Sixth Nitrates Programme, a statement from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage read: “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.”