Grant aid needed in new slurry restriction

ANY upgrading of slurry spreading equipment – as part of emission reduction requirements – must be funded through Government grants, according to Independent Roscommon/Galway TD, Michael Fitzmaurice.

He said that reports last week indicated that farmers and contractors would be ‘hit’ with new rules on slurry spreading as Ireland tries to meet EU targets restricting ammonia emissions into the atmosphere.

Deputy Fitzmaurice said that the latest proposals on limiting emissions from slurry spready had been outlined by the Dept. of Communication, Climate Action and Environment Clean Air Strategy paper.

He said that the new rules would require the use of modern low emission slurry spreading techniques such as trailing shoe/hose instead of the traditional splash-plate method.

Deputy Fitzmaurice said that he had made his position clear on this issue earlier this year in a submission he had made to the National Clean Air Strategy.

“Should the Government decide to restrict or ban splash plate slurry spreading, then the cost for farmers and contractors of upgrading their equipment must be funded entirely through Government grants.

“To expect operators to upgrade perfectly good equipment in order to comply with new regulations is unreasonable,” Deputy Fitzmaurice said in his submission.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.