The Agricultural Catchments Programme has a total annual budget of €1.6m, comprising €745,000 in salary costs and €855,000 for overheads, consumables, equipment, analytical services, etc.

The programme has a team that is evaluating both the environmental and economic effects of the nitrates directive. Its aims, according to the Teagasc website, are to support “the production of high-quality food” and better water quality.

For nearly 10 years, ACP staff have been working with 300 farmers across six catchments in Ireland.

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“It is delivered by Teagasc, who have assigned four permanent and 12 part-time staff to work on the programme,” Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed said in response to a parliamentary question from Fianna Fáil agricultural spokesperson Charlie McConologue.

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