Poultry Farming

Pigs and Poultry data exchange

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This was listed as an ACTION in the Nitrates Expert Group Meeting Minutes
9.30–11.00, 13th September 2023

DAFM/EPA will meet again to discuss Pigs and Poultry data exchange

No further information, but it’s understood that EPA may not currently share slurry related data on regulated sites with the DAFM, so DAFM cannot compare with their own data

Also note from previous AIEs the number of pig and poultry operations licenced by EPA does not match the number given by DAFM as above the stocking threshold for EPA licence. This discrepancy was never explained

Nitrates Expert Group Meeting Minutes, 11.30 – 13.00, 2nd August 2023

EPA licencing – stocking threshold, pigs / poultry

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AIE

OES AIE 2023 01

Under the AIE Regs to request a list of intensive agricultural sites that have been notified to the EPA by Local Authorities, which are below the stocking threshold for EPA licencing, to include the date first notified to EPA, and the general reasons for notification

For the purposes of this AIE please consider the years 2021, 2022 and 2023 YTD

OES-AIE-2023-01-Right-to-Know-Notifications-from-LA-re-Int-AgDownload

DAFM AIE Refusals based on Herd Number and/or Herd Location

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AIE/23/085 Appealed to OCEI

Register of cattle herds with over 500 cattle per head, to include the herd number and location of each cattle farm

011Internalreviewdecision240322Download

AAIE/23/050 Appealed to OCEI

Herd number and location of derogation farms in the Electoral District of Dripsey, Cork in 2021

RTK-AAIE23050Download

AIE 23075 Internal Review

Register of poultry flocks with over 10000 / 40000 birds

AIE-AIE23075-Part-Grant-letterDownload

AAIE/23/074 Internal Review

Pig farms with over 1000 pigs

Final-response-AIE-23-074Download

Western Brand, Planning Applications

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Planning application details ref: 22991 Mayo County Council

https://www.eplanning.ie/MayoCC/AppFileRefDetails/22991/0

Planning application details ref: 2361 Mayo County Council

https://www.eplanning.ie/MayoCC/AppFileRefDetails/2361/0

The installation of a 392 cubic meter above ground tank to store fully treated effluent prior to final discharge to Dalgan River, together with all ancillary site works and services. The proposed tank is an addition/extension to the existing tank storage facility previously approved (planning ref P21/859). The development relates to a current Industrial Emissions licence (Ref: P0831-02)

Planning application details ref: 221074 Mayo County Council

https://www.eplanning.ie/MayoCC/AppFileRefDetails/221074/0

Intensification of production of broiler chickens from 100,000 to 112,000 birds at the existing facility and within the existing four broiler chicken houses, including all ancillary site works and services

Planning application details ref: 20979 Mayo County Council

https://www.eplanning.ie/MayoCC/AppFileRefDetails/20979/0

THE LAYING OF A 150MM DIAMETER UNDERGROUND DISCHARGE PIPE 3.5KM IN LENGTH FROM EXISTING FACTORY IN KNOCKAUNACAT TO PROPOSED OUTFALL AT THE GWEESTION STREAM ANNAGH PASSING THROUGH TOWNLANDS OF KNOCKAUNACAT, DERRYMORE, ERRIFF, ISLAND AND ANNAGH, TOGETHER WITH ALL ANCILLARY SITE WORKS AND SERVICES

Register of Poultry Flocks

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AIE 23/075

Request under AIE Regs was:

A register of poultry flocks with:

– over 10000 birds (approx 700 farms)

– over 40000 birds (approx 250 farms)

records to include the flock number and location

Requested internal review on refusal by DAFM to release flock numbers and locations

AIE-AIE23075-Part-Grant-letterDownload
AIE23075-No-of-poultry-flocksDownload

DAFM Registration of a Poultry Premises: what data is recorded?

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Note: Anyone who owns or keeps poultry must by law register the site where the poultry is kept with the Department (Control on Places where Poultry are Kept Regulations 2014, S.I. 114 of 2014)

Site address, latitude and longitude

Herd numbers

Proposed / updated number of poultry on premises

Number of poultry houses on site

Does the flock have outdoor access?

Name and address of the person/business poultry was sourced from (only most recent source)

Quantity of each bird type in the flock

95966_105dd54b-77a1-4dc7-b693-aaf432750086Download

EPA Enforcement Case: Western Brand Group

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EPA prosecutes Western Brand Group Limited (P0831-01)

https://www.epa.ie/our-services/compliance–enforcement/whats-happening/prosecutions-and-penalties/prosecutions-2023/epa-prosecutes-western-brand-group-limited-p0831-01.php

On 30th January 2023, the Environmental Protection Agency prosecuted Western Brand Group Limited (P0831-01) at Castlebar District Court,

The company pleaded guilty to 8 Charges:

  • Failure to comply with condition 5.1, on the 22nd of January 2019, in that specified emission exceed the Emission Limit Value (ELV) for Ammonia set out in Schedule B of the said licence.
  • Failure to comply with condition 5.1, on the 22nd of January 2019, in that specified emission exceed the Emission Limit Value (ELV) for Suspended Solids set out in Schedule B of the said licence.
  • Failure to comply with condition 5.1, on the 23rd of January 2019, in that specified emission exceed the Emission Limit Value (ELV) for biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) set out in Schedule B of the said licence.
  • Failure to comply with condition 5.1, on the 23rd of January 2019, in that specified emission exceed the Emission Limit Value (ELV) for flow (m3/day) set out in Schedule B of the said licence.
  • Failure to comply with condition 5.1, on the 19th of February 2019, in that specified emission exceed the Emission Limit Value (ELV) for E-Coli set out in Schedule B of the said licence.
  • Failure to comply with condition 8.2 on the 23rd of January 2019, in failure to ensure that waste sent off-site for recovery/disposal was transported off-site by an authorised waste contractor in a manner that was in accordance with the appropriate National and European legislation and protocols, namely that the waste was transported in a lorry tanker by personnel who did not hold a waste collection permit.
  • Failure to comply with condition 8.2 on the 23rd of January 2019, in failure to ensure that waste sent off-site for recovery/disposal from the site of the activity to the site of recovery/disposal in a manner that was in accordance with the appropriate National and European legislation and protocols to a facility that was not the holder of a waste facility permit as required by Section 39 of the Waste Management Act 1996 (as amended).
  • Failure to comply with Condition 11.8, on the 23rd of January 2019, for failing to keep a full record in respect of the transport of waste from the licensed site.

Judge Keane, having heard the evidence, convicted the company on the above charges.

Judge Keane imposed fines of €8,000 (€1,000 per charge) and costs were also awarded.   

DAFM Animal Health Computer System: Poultry Records

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DAFM maintains a register of poultry premises in this jurisdiction on its Animal Health Computer System.

It is estimated that the Republic of Ireland has a total poultry population of approximately 31.5 million birds according to this register.

Based on the 2019 poultry census there are over 7,000 active poultry holdings registered with DAFM.

Of these over 1300 keep greater than 1,000 birds, approximately 700 report capacity for over 10,000 birds and of these over 250 holdings have capacity for greater than 40,000 birds.

In Northern Ireland, there are a further 790 poultry holdings registered with the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), with a population of approximately 24.8 million birds.

Of these holdings 403 keep greater than 1,000 birds, 377 of these holdings keep over 10,000 birds, approximately 131 of which keep great than 50,000 birds.

Species kept include chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys and other birds kept in a variety of different production systems.

https://datacatalogue.gov.ie/dataset/animal-health-computer-system-database

Source: numbers from 2022 cull tender

RFT-215166-Poultry-Depop-final-270520221Download

Trade Effluent Discharge to Groundwater, and new Surface Water Discharge Pipe Application: Western Brand Group Unlimited, Ballyhaunis, Mayo

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Plant slaughters/processing on average 750,000 chickens per week

The Western Brand facility currently discharges treated effluent, under an EPA licence, to a marsh area to the south east of the installation (Irish Grid Reference 145536 E, 279753 N).

In order to reduce risk to groundwater resources, the EPA has requested that the site cease discharging to groundwater and seek an alternative surface water discharge point.

Western Brand are proposing to construct a new treated effluent rising main pipeline from their existing WWTP discharge pump sump to a proposed outfall at the River Glore [Mayo] (also named Gweestion or Mannin River).

Pipe to Glore River (tributary of Moy)

Other EPA facilities nearby

AA required

IFI response

HSE response

Dept of Housing submission

Community submission