Sir, - The informative articles by Kevin O'Sullivan (August 2nd) highlight again a deteriorating situation in relation to farm pollution. The Rural Environmental Protection Scheme (REPS) is proving as ineffective as it has been maladministered.
At one third of its expected participation rate, and operating standards that are often minimalist, there is a serious question mark over the environmental effectiveness of the scheme. If increasing suspicion in Brussels about the integrity of REPS is not allayed, Irish farmers could lose much needed income. The Irish environment will be irrevocably beggared.
Ivan Yates's closure of the Control of Farm yard Pollution Scheme last year has seriously retarded uptake of REPS. Farmers have been denied access to the necessary capital grants to bring their farms up to an eligible standard for REPS. Given the finding of the Marine Institute in relation to fish kills published in May, that "the most serious problem was run off from farmyards", clearly the closure of that scheme has already exacted a heavy environmental toll.
The Department of Agriculture's role as both gamekeeper and poacher in relation to farm pollution needs to be radically reviewed. Minister Yates's view that a nutrient management plan for farms is luxury rather than a necessity is no longer credible. The recommended levels of phosphate are too high and ineffective, because of their voluntary nature. Farm wastes are potentially dangerous and need to be treated as such.
I believe we should now consider if the countryside would be better served by placing primary responsibility for the rural environment with the EPA, not with the Department of Agriculture. It is time to consider putting the EPA in charge of on farm compliance with higher environmental standards, including REPS. - Yours, etc.,
Fianna Fail spokesperson for Ecology and Urban
Renewal,
Dail Eireann.