28-04-2025
National push to protect rivers and secure nitrates derogation
A Teagasc team has been set the challenge to coordinate the efforts of all relevant stakeholders in six river catchments, to put in place a comprehensive plan to improve water quality.
The stakeholders include farmers, Teagasc, private agricultural consultants, industry representatives, the Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO), local authorities, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH), and community groups.
The team of six Teagasc catchment co-ordinators, and their catchments, are Fiona Doolan in the Boyne catchment; Philip Murphy, Blackwater; Claire Mooney, Suir; Neilus Nunan, Slaney; Oisín Coakley, Lee and Bandon; and Ciaran Sheelan, Nore and Barrow.
Noel Meehan, Head of the Teagasc Water Quality Knowledge Transfer Department, said: 'I look forward to working with the six catchment co-ordinators in what is a very important role under the Teagasc Better Farming for Water Campaign.
"All stakeholders will be required to play their part in a collective effort of planning and actions. Key to realising improvements is the careful targeting of the right measure in the right place, alongside high levels of implementation at farm level".
"We have a great opportunity to use the Better Farming for Water campaign to support farmers in the implementation of water protection measures and to have a period of sustained water quality improvement.'
The Teagasc Better Farming for Water campaign focuses on eight actions for change.
They are:
Reducing the purchased nitrogen and phosphorus surplus per hectare.
Ensuring soil fertility is optimal for lime, phosphorus and potassium.
Ensuring application of fertiliser and organic manure at appropriate times and conditions.
Having sufficient slurry and soiled water storage capacity.
Managing and minimising nutrient loss from farmyards and roadways.
Fencing off watercourses to prevent bovine access.
Promoting targeted use of mitigation actions such as riparian margins, buffer strips and sediment traps to mitigate nutrient and sediment loss to water.
Maintaining over-winter green cover, to reduce nutrient leaching from tillage soils.
In Munster, there is added emphasis on water quality in the Blackwater catchment, following the launch of the River Blackwater Catchment Programme, led by Dairygold Co-Op.
This three-year programme will see the dairy processor partner with Teagasc, LAWPRO, Dairy Industry Ireland, Meat Industry Ireland, Irish Grain Growers, ABP, Dawn Meats, Kepak Group, Kerry Co-op, North Cork Creameries, Tirlán, and others, on a series of combined projects, actions and activities to engage farmers and processors and implement best farm practices to improve water quality.
There is also a strong agriculture sector involvement in protecting and enhancing water quality across the River Slaney catchment.
Launched about one year ago, the River Slaney Project includes Tirlán, Teagasc, LAWPRO, and accounting and advisory specialists, ifac, providing practical advice and support for water quality.
More than 250 Tirlán suppliers have submitted over €1.5m in applications to the €60m Government and European Commission Farming for Water EIP fund for water enhancement. Local authorities across the Slaney catchment, along with Irish Water, and the Kepak, Dawn, and ABP food companies are supporting the project.
Tirlán CEO Seán Molloy said: 'We are focused on ensuring that Tirlán and its farmers, alongside agri-food organisations across the country, deliver the best possible case for Ireland's retention of the Nitrates Derogation.
'The months ahead are a crucial period for Ireland to maintain momentum. Our ask is that all farm families continue their good work and engage with us and our partners, with our dedicated teams and ASSAP advisors.
"Funding is readily available under the Farming for Water EIP for focused, results-driven actions to protect water, and our teams are available to support suppliers to avail of these.'
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