80. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the targeted supports or guidance being provided to farmers in catchment areas associated with repeated pesticide exceedances in drinking water supplies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52199/26]

My Department leads and coordinates a range of actions to help farmers protect drinking water supplies from potential impacts of pesticide use.

Efforts are coordinated by the National Pesticides and Drinking Water Action Group (NPDWAG), which is chaired by my Department and has representation from a wide range of key stakeholders including Government agencies, farming organisations, local authorities, industry representative bodies, water sector organisations and amenity sector organisations.

Actions are taken at a national level and also at a local level in priority catchment areas agreed by Uisce Éireann and the Environmental Protection Agency. There are currently five priority areas where repeated pesticide exceedances have occurred. Catchment Focus Groups involving local stakeholders have been established in these areas to coordinate a range of catchment-specific actions.

Examples of actions taken include awareness-raising measures, the development of technical advice and guidance, engagement with researchers, and regulatory and enforcement measures by my Department. Measures implemented under the Sustainable Use of Pesticides Directive are important as well. These include training of pesticide users, distributors and advisors, inspection and certification of pesticide application equipment, and safeguard zones to protect drinking water sources.

Farmers are playing a vital role and have made significant progress in reducing pesticide use to protect water quality and enhance biodiversity, based on an integrated pest management approach. These efforts have contributed to a significantly improved trend in drinking water quality since the NPDWAG was established in 2017.

In addition to the work of the NPDWAG, it should also be noted that my Department has funded the Farming for Water European Innovation Partnership project, which provides support for a number of measures to reduce losses of pesticides to water. This includes measures such as retrofitting sprayers with low-drift nozzles to reduce spray drift and mobile drip trays to prevent spills while filling sprayer tanks.

Sustained efforts are needed to maintain the good progress that has been made in protecting and enhancing drinking water quality. My Department will continue its intensive engagements with farmers and other stakeholders and will consider the need for further actions if necessary.