Minister for Agriculture and Food Charlie McConalogue has officially opened a new initiative aimed at enhancing water quality across the Slaney river catchment area.
Effective in a number of counties, the River Slaney Project has been launched by Tirlán and will include combined projects, actions and activities involving the dairy and grain co-operative and other bodies such as Teagasc, IFAC, the Local Authority Waters Programme, and county councils.
According to Tirlán, the project is aligned with the Government's €60 million European Innovative Partnership Farming for Water scheme which has improving water quality at all levels as its goal.
Operating across Wexford, Carlow and Wicklow, the Slaney plan will focus on better nutrient use in farms, improved milk solids as well as better farm infrastructure and slurry storage capacity.
A team of Tirlán farm advisors will utilise best practice advice and focus on improving farm economic and environmental performance to address water quality challenges, while protecting biodiversity.
Launching the project in Enniscorthy, Minister 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".
He said such pioneering projects are working in partnership with farmers to implement targeted actions to reduce nutrient losses and improve water quality.
"Farming for Water and the River Slaney Project are examples of a collective effort to address water quality and support Ireland in securing a further nitrates derogation that is crucial to farmers and Ireland's wider dairy, drystock and tillage sectors," he said, adding that Tirlán are taking a "leadership role" in addressing water quality challenges in this manner.
"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."
Tirlán chairperson, John Murphy, said: "The Slaney River is the lifeblood of the south-east and is a crucially important river catchment for our communities and our farms.
"In turn, as custodians of the land we take our responsibility seriously to ensure our actions work to preserve and enhance our local environment, for the economic and environmental benefit of all.
"Working together, as part of a collaborative project, we believe that we can make a difference and enhance water quality. 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."
CEO of Tirlán, Jim Bergin, described it as "a significant project" which is aligned with the goals set out in the national policy and the co-operative's Living Proof sustainability strategy.
