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The new River Basin Management Plan 2018-2021 was launched on Tuesday 17 April, with agriculture one of the key areas targeted for improvement. Of all the water bodies identified as at risk, 53% of these were found to have a significant pressure from agriculture. Excess nutrients and/or chemicals, including those in pesticides, and sediment loss due to poor land management have all been identified as likely pressures.
While Ireland does have an extensive water monitoring network by European standards, a considerable 30% of our water bodies are at risk status.
Dairy targeted
Department spokespersons have said before that when it comes to Ireland being granted derogation into the future, one of the first things that the European Commission will look at is the status of our water bodies and if there has been any deterioration in water quality.
If we as a country can steadily improve the status of our water quality, then it will make getting granted derogation easier. Derogation has become key to expanding farms in this country, with 7,000 farmers availing of the higher stocking rates each year.
Expanding farms, and particular dairy farms, have been identified as a key pressure area through the plan. An agricultural sustainability support and advisory programme will be established, with 30 new advisers coming from both Teagasc and the dairy co-ops.
The aim of these advisers is to work one-on-one with farmers. The east of the country has been identified as having more pressure points than the rest of the country. Farmers with their own wells will also be targeted if they are abstracting more than 25m3/day. The guideline given is that this will be for dairy farms with more than 200 cows.
Forestry aid
Forestry will also gain more support. A new proposed environmental enhancement of forests scheme will see a fixed grant available to forest owners to complete actions that will lead to structural changes within existing forests.
The aim is to improve the environmental footprint of the forests in relation to the impacts on water quality, habitats and species along with other environmental sensitivities.
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