2753. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures being undertaken as part of the Nitrates Action Plan and the farming for water project to improve water quality and protections; the way in which these actions are being assessed and enforced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62517/26]

My colleague, Minister Browne is responsible for Ireland's Nitrates Action Programme (NAP) and the associated Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters (GAP) Regulations. My Department works closely with Minister Browne’s Department for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, in this regard and enacts many of the requirements set out the NAP.

A full list of regulatory and non-regulatory measures introduced with effect from the 1st of January 2026 in the Sixth Nitrates Action Programme, can be found at the following:www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/publications/sixth-nitrates-action-programme/

With regard to my Department’s funded European Innovation Partnership (EIP) Better Farming for Water project, measures available to farmers are listed on the project's webpage: www.farmingforwater.ie/measures/

The Agricultural Catchments Programme (ACP), which is funded by my Department and operated by Teagasc, was established in 2008. The ACP’s principal objective is to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the package of measures implemented under the NAP. The ACP works in partnership with 300 farmers to assess the impact of agricultural activity on water in six intensively farmed river catchments. This intensive bio physical monitoring has provided Ireland with a unique dataset, which is an invaluable resource in understanding nutrient losses from agriculture.

The GAP Regulations are enforced through inspections carried out by local authorities under the EPA's National Agricultural Inspection Programme (NAIP) and through inspections by my Department. Inspections by my Department take place as part of the conditionality associated with receipt of EU payments and/or receipt of a nitrates derogation.

Under the Fifth NAP compliance and enforcement activity was increased significantly. One of the actions under the Sixth NAP is to continue and further increase the focus on compliance and enforcement activity.