Minister of State for planning and local government John Cummins is to announce this Tuesday that draft regulations in relation to animal housing and to provide a standalone slurry storage facility on farms are being finalised.
Minister Cummins is said to have "listened to the farming community and worked with agriculture minister Martin Heydon" to accelerate exempted developments for farmers that will "cut red tape, reduce costs and enable farmers to invest quickly to meet environmental standards".
These changes for these particular agriculture exemptions followed a public consultation on the updating of exempted developments which have not been updated in almost 25 years.
It is hoped that the increased slurry storage capacity at farm level will greatly assist with retaining Ireland’s nitrates derogation.
The changes are:
Increase the size of animal housing under Class 6 of Part 3 of Schedule 2 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended, by 50%. This will increase from 200m² to 300m² for a structure to house animals.Increase the aggregated total from 300m² to 450m² for animal housing per farm holding.Allow for a standalone slurry storage tank of up to 1,000m³, subject to a total farm storage of 1,500m³.This allows for a farm building (defined under Class 6) up to 300m² to be built without planning permission, as long as the total square metres of animal housing within 100m and including the new build does not gross above 450m².
Regarding slurry storage, 1,000m³ of storage can be constructed, as long as the total farm storage (including the new storage) does not exceed 1,500m³.
Rules regarding proximity to roads, other dwellings and watercourses will remain and if an environmental impact assessment or an appropriate assessment of the development is required, planning permission will continue to be required.
Engagement
Minister Cummins said: “I have engaged with the farming community and understand the urgency of ensuring we make these exemptions so farm families can continue to develop their businesses and livelihoods in rural Ireland.
“By making it easier to expand slurry storage and housing for cattle, we are giving farmers the flexibility to plan for the future while continuing to protect water quality and these steps will assist in ensuring that our nitrates derogation can be maintained.
"The removal of the need for planning permission at appropriate locations for these farm structures will also reduce the regulatory burden on farmers.”
Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon said: "This will assist farmers investing in their enterprises, helping to improve water quality and animal welfare while reducing regulatory burden."
What do the new rules look like?
Taking the above in to consideration, a suckler beef shed measuring five standard bays in length, with a 13ft lie back, a 16ft slatted area and an 8ft feed space at the front (open fronted) will come to approximately 300m².
Regarding slurry storage creation, taking a double tank extending the full five bays above (24m) with agitation points at either end (1.5m each) and a depth of 2.4m, we would only use slightly over half the allowance, with the above tank being 518.4m³.
The above exempted storage of 1,000m³ would provide sufficient storage for 168 dairy cows across an 18-week period at the current figure of 0.33m³/cow/week.
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Minister of State for planning and local government John Cummins is to announce this Tuesday that draft regulations in relation to animal housing and to provide a standalone slurry storage facility on farms are being finalised.
Minister Cummins is said to have "listened to the farming community and worked with agriculture minister Martin Heydon" to accelerate exempted developments for farmers that will "cut red tape, reduce costs and enable farmers to invest quickly to meet environmental standards".
These changes for these particular agriculture exemptions followed a public consultation on the updating of exempted developments which have not been updated in almost 25 years.
It is hoped that the increased slurry storage capacity at farm level will greatly assist with retaining Ireland’s nitrates derogation.
The changes are:
Increase the size of animal housing under Class 6 of Part 3 of Schedule 2 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended, by 50%. This will increase from 200m² to 300m² for a structure to house animals.Increase the aggregated total from 300m² to 450m² for animal housing per farm holding.Allow for a standalone slurry storage tank of up to 1,000m³, subject to a total farm storage of 1,500m³.This allows for a farm building (defined under Class 6) up to 300m² to be built without planning permission, as long as the total square metres of animal housing within 100m and including the new build does not gross above 450m².
Regarding slurry storage, 1,000m³ of storage can be constructed, as long as the total farm storage (including the new storage) does not exceed 1,500m³.
Rules regarding proximity to roads, other dwellings and watercourses will remain and if an environmental impact assessment or an appropriate assessment of the development is required, planning permission will continue to be required.
Engagement
Minister Cummins said: “I have engaged with the farming community and understand the urgency of ensuring we make these exemptions so farm families can continue to develop their businesses and livelihoods in rural Ireland.
“By making it easier to expand slurry storage and housing for cattle, we are giving farmers the flexibility to plan for the future while continuing to protect water quality and these steps will assist in ensuring that our nitrates derogation can be maintained.
"The removal of the need for planning permission at appropriate locations for these farm structures will also reduce the regulatory burden on farmers.”
Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon said: "This will assist farmers investing in their enterprises, helping to improve water quality and animal welfare while reducing regulatory burden."
What do the new rules look like?
Taking the above in to consideration, a suckler beef shed measuring five standard bays in length, with a 13ft lie back, a 16ft slatted area and an 8ft feed space at the front (open fronted) will come to approximately 300m².
Regarding slurry storage creation, taking a double tank extending the full five bays above (24m) with agitation points at either end (1.5m each) and a depth of 2.4m, we would only use slightly over half the allowance, with the above tank being 518.4m³.
The above exempted storage of 1,000m³ would provide sufficient storage for 168 dairy cows across an 18-week period at the current figure of 0.33m³/cow/week.
Read more
Ireland facing 200,000 cow cull if derogation lost
Long-awaited rise in TAMS reference costs
Derogation decision delays farm building plans
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