AIE/23/420
“The Minister for Agriculture gave a radio interview on Saturday 29 July 2023 where is said that Ireland was number 2 or 3 in the EU for water quality. https://www.rte.ie/radio/radio1/clips/22280627/ I would be very grateful if you could forward the data or report from which this claim is derived.”
The newly established agriculture water quality working group had its first meeting on Monday 29 May in Portlaoise, at the request of Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue. The working group includes representatives of the farm organisations, the agri-food industry, Teagasc, private agricultural consultants, local authorities, An Fóram Uisce and officials from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the Department of Agriculture, which chaired the meeting. The aim of the working group is to identify and commit to demonstrative actions that will facilitate the agricultural sector contribute to improved water quality. https://www.farmersjournal.ie/first-meeting-of-water-quality-working-group-takes-place-768285
19 September 2022
On this episode of the Signpost Webinar Series, which took place on Friday, 16 September, Mark Gibson, Head of Teagasc Outreach & Innovation Department was joined by Noel Meehan, ASSAP Manager, Teagasc and Joe Crockett, Dairy Sustainability Ireland to discuss the ASSAP interim review.
A questions and answers session took place at the end of the webinar which was facilitated by Pat Murphy, Head of Environment KT, Teagasc.
https://share.transistor.fm/e/231d741c
Booklet of Measures
IRD Duhallow are a rural development company serving the Duhallow region of North West Cork, Mid-Cork and South East Kerry.
This booklet was produced by the IRD Duhallow Blue Dot team to raise awareness of the importance of measures implemented by the Duhallow Farming for Blue Dot Catchments EIP and the Owentaraglin River EIP project.
A contract will be awarded for the out-sourcing of a series of Farm Inspections in various “At Risk” catchments in Co. Donegal.
The specification may include carrying out of Integrated Catchment Management (ICM) and Investigative Assessment in certain agricultural catchments, as required.
https://irl.eu-supply.com/ctm/Supplier/PublicPurchase/223490/1
The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has allocated some short-term funding to local authorities to increase efforts to deal with several water quality pressures in high risk water bodies, the largest of which is agriculture, under the 2nd River Basin Management Plan and continuing into the 3rd cycle plan yet to be published.
As a first step, an increased programme of agricultural inspections will be compiled and commenced in these water bodies in the coming months. The resources for this work will be drawn from the private sector and this contract is for the engagement of suitably qualified contract staff to carry out the required inspections in various catchments within Donegal County Council’s functional area.
These inspections will focus primarily on farmyards and compliance with the Good Agricultural Practice Regulations, eg – slurry storage, silage pits, manure pits/dungsteads, minimisation of soiled water, drains and adjacent water-courses, including cattle access and farm roadways.
Initial planning, selection of sites and follow-up actions, including enforcement will be carried out by local authority staff. The Council will draw up a weekly programme of inspections in a small number of “at risk” catchments and these will be completed by the contract staff using a pre-set inspection template and recorded in electronic format. Farms to be inspected will include the full range of farm types, including, dairy, sheep and mixed farms.
Extract from EPA Abstraction Register
