Nitrates
Nitrate loss is most common in freely draining soils, where it leaches readily to groundwater
before being discharged into river systems and onwards to estuaries and coastal waters where it
causes water quality problems. In the freely draining catchments in the south east, nitrate losses
are closely correlated with farm intensity: the higher the application of nitrate to land, the higher
the nitrate concentrations in waters. Nitrogen losses from these catchments in the south east
of the country continue to rise, and are over double the annual losses from catchments in the
west.
An Taisce submission – SEA on Draft Additional Measures for the Fifth Nitrates Action Programme
Early insights indicator report: Nitrogen concentrations in selected major rivers, January-June 2024
The purpose of this report is to provide an early insight into nitrogen concentrations in major rivers in Ireland on a 6-monthly basis, in advance of the more comprehensive annual water quality assessments which are published on an annual basis.
Agricultural related water quality issue examples forwarded by Regional Operational Committee implementing bodies
Observations on Agriculture GAP Regs compliance and good practice 2021 Presentation to ASSAP Farm Consultative Group Meeting 24 Jan 2022 & discussion through WFD governance structure: SE and SW ROCs & SERWEMC
Examples are a sub-set of those forwarded by Local Authorities and Inland Fisheries Ireland
CORK
Derogation dairy farm, Inniscarra, Cork
Derogation farm, Awbeg River, Cork
Unknown farm type, Cork, land clearance
Derogation farm, Cork
Derogation farm, Douglas (Bride), Cork
Derogation farm, Cork
Derogation farm Cork
Carlow
LIMERICK
Bunoke, Limerick
Deel River, Limerick
Shannagolden, Limerick
Funshion, Limerick
Killeenagarriff, Limerick
Aherlow, Limerick
Broadford Stream, Limerick
Bunoke, Limerick
Ballynaclogh River, Limerick
Owvane, Limerick
KERRY
Impasse / fish passage blockage
Finglas River, a tributary of the Laune
Unauthorised gravel removal River Inny
WICKLOW
Derogation farm, Slaney tributary, Wicklow
Culverting, Tributary of Dargle River, Wicklow
Newcastle River, Wicklow
WATERFORD
River Clodiagh, Waterford
North Cork / DulhallowLIFE
Tipperary
Pil River, Kilkenny
Suir
Trib. Of Duag river
Ballyporeen
Clare
WEXFORD
Example of slurry export on paper only
Bannow Bay
Bell Harbour, Co Clare
Feedback from the SE and SW ROCs
Follow up feedback from IFI (FEO O. McGrath)
Common Yard Lay-out Wicklow – High Risk example
Overview of the Nitrates Action Programme
Agriculture Water Quality Working Group
Working Group’s proposed objective of reversing Ireland’s negative water trends that are attributed to Agricultural pressures with the view of also securing Ireland’s nitrates derogation post-2025.
Terms of reference
Membership
Minutes
29TH June 2023
19TH June 2023
29th May 2023
AIE: Derogation farms affected by lower nitrates derogation
Response, as of 1st Nov 2023, DAFM has not yet identified the holdings concerned
AIE Request: nitrates derogation GIS data in shp format
DAFM National Water Quality Review Implementation Map for 2024
Date of shp file: 2023-10-02
https://opendata.agriculture.gov.ie/dataset/national-water-quality
Water Quality Review Implementation Map for 2024 – Maximum stocking rate of 220 kg livestock manure nitrogen per hectare applies for Nitrates Derogation holdings in these areas for 2024.
Minister of Agriculture statement on Irish water quality
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.”