Relevant Matter
Public policy or programme
Public Policy Area
Agriculture
Period
1 Jan. 2026 to 30 Apr. 2026
Specific Details
Animal Welfare Nutrient Storage Scheme (AWNSS)
Intended results
To acknowledge the Minister for Agriculture's part in securing an extension to Ireland's nitrates derogation. This extension has provided the necessary time to complete appropriate assessments at catchment and sub-catchment level, while also allowing farmers the opportunity to invest in additional nutrient storage infrastructure required to comply with the sixth Nitrates Action Programme (NAP).
To acknowledge that the Minister of State for Planning and Local Government John Cummins, was also instrumental in introducing a new planning exemption that allows farmers to increase stand-alone nutrient storage capacity without the need for planning permission. This is a hugely important measure for the sector, reducing red tape and costs while enabling farmers to invest more quickly to meet environmental standards.
To highlight how disappointing it is that on 3rd March the Minister for Agriculture, Food, and the Marine announced that only 60% of applications under the Animal Welfare Nutrient Storage Scheme (AWNSS) will be eligible for funding under the selection process for TAMS 3 Tranche 10.
To emphasise that by reducing the selection threshold from 80% to 60% and capping support, especially after significant delays in accessing the planning exemption, which was first promised in August 2024, risks slowing urgently needed investment in nutrient storage, undermining farmers' ability to comply with the NAP.
To stress that ensuring sufficient nutrient storage capacity to comply with increased requirements is a key Government priority, as set out in both the Programme for Government and the Water and Agriculture – A Collaborative Approach plan. Sub-optimal nutrient management represents a significant threat to water quality and to the continued retention of Ireland's nitrates derogation.
To point out that increasing support for nutrient storage through AWNSS also delivers important co-benefits. Improved storage capacity allows farmers to maximise nutrient use efficiency, maintain grass production, and reduce reliance on increasingly expensive inorganic fertilisers.
That, given the importance of these investments for water quality, compliance with the sixth NAP, and the retention of the nitrates derogation, to respectfully ask that the ranking and selection threshold for AWNSS under TAMS 3 Tranche 10 be reviewed and increased to 100%.
Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity
Francie Gorman IFA President, Damian McDonald IFA Director General, John Murphy IFA Environment & Rural Affairs Chair, Geraldine O'Sullivan IFA Senior Policy Executive, Shane Whelan IFA Senior Policy Executive
Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?)
No
Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign?
No
Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client?
No
Lobbying activity
The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.
Informal communication (2-5)
Designated public officials lobbied
The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them.
As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.
Barry Cassidy
Special Adviser (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)
Brian Purcell
Adviser to Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)
Carol Nolan
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Martin Heydon
Minister of State (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)
Tony McCormack
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
William Aird
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)