Tirlán launches new water quality programme as pressure to retain Ireland’s Nitrates Derogation escalates
The River Slaney in Enniscorthy.
Tirlán, Ireland’s largest co-operative, has launched the ‘Farming for Water: River Slaney Project’, an initiative designed to enhance water quality across the Slaney River catchment area in counties Wexford, Carlow, and Wicklow.
The multi-year programme will include a series of combined projects, actions and activities led by Tirlán in collaboration with key stakeholders including Teagasc, professional services firm ifac, Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO), County Councils and the wider community.
The River Slaney Project will be closely aligned with the Government’s €60 million European Innovation Partnership (EIP) ‘Farming for Water’ project aimed at improving water quality at local, catchment, and national levels.
Tirlán has said that these efforts will be crucial to help make the best possible case for Ireland to successfully retain the Nitrates Derogation from 2026.
John Murphy, Tirlán Chairperson, said: “We want to ensure that Tirlán, alongside our farmers, do everything we can and make the best possible case for Ireland to successfully retain the Nitrates Derogation into 2026 and beyond.
“We believe that the River Slaney project will show that it is possible to farm at current levels and maintain good water quality.”
Actions are set to be taken across all farming enterprises, dairy, grain and drystock, and in the wider communities.
Launching the project, Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue called for a collective effort to make ‘real improvements’ to water quality in key regions to ensure Ireland and Irish farmers secure the Nitrates Derogation from 2026.
“This collaborative approach whereby farmers work alongside communities and authorities to improve water quality provides a framework for how we can work together to deliver on our regulatory and environmental responsibilities, and for the benefit of all people and nature in the area,” he said.
A team of Tirlán farm advisors will focus on improving farm economic and environmental performance to address water quality challenges, while protecting biodiversity.
The advisory service will focus on better nutrient use, improved milk solids, farm infrastructure and slurry storage capacity.
It aims to transform the Slaney from one highlighted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) water testing programme as a ‘catchment of concern’ to one that provides best practice in how partnerships and collaboration can deliver real and meaningful changes and improvements that work for farmers, local communities, and the wider environment together.
