Lee and Bandon-Ilen action plan targets improved water quality
The Lee and Bandon-Ilen Catchment Action Plan, part of the Teagasc Better Farming for Water campaign, has been launched.
The plan aims to support and accelerate the adoption of the '8 Actions for Change' on farms across both catchments to improve water quality where agriculture is a significant pressure.
The Lee and Bandon-Ilen are two of the eight priority catchments identified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as "catchments of concern", requiring tailored, locally-driven programmes to reduce nutrient and sediment losses and restore water quality.
The Barrow, Blackwater, Boyne, Nore, Slaney and Suir are other priority catchments.
The latest EPA water‑quality assessments highlight the need for coordinated on‑farm actions, which is a core aim of the Teagasc campaign.
Implementation
A dedicated Lee and Bandon-Ilen Catchment Implementation Group has been established to oversee delivery of the action plan.
Carbery Group, based in Ballineen, has undertaken the role of industry lead, "fostering collaboration among stakeholders" across the Lee and Bandon-Ilen catchments.
The group brings together farmers, local authorities, catchment-based industry representatives, regulators, catchment scientists and more.
It is chaired by Roy Kingston, supported by dedicated Teagasc catchment coordinator, Oisín Coakley.
Water quality
The plan was officially launched today (Friday, March 27), by Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan, at the Innishannon House Hotel in Cork.
Speaking at the launch, Minister O’Sullivan said: “The issue of water quality is central to the future of communities across Cork, and indeed across the whole country.
"This government is deeply committed to supporting the work being done on the ground by farmers, advisers, industry and local authorities to reverse the declines in our freshwater ecosystems, restore them to better health and ensure that they are more resilient.
"The Lee and Bandon–Ilen action plan is a clear example of a collaborative, practical and science‑led approach.
"I want to acknowledge the commitment of the farmers across Co. Cork who are already making changes and who will play a vital role in delivering lasting improvements for our rivers, lakes, estuaries, and coastal waters.”
Frank O’Mara, director of Teagasc, said that farmers have a "crucial role to play in restoring and protecting water quality".
"Across the country we are already seeing evidence of positive change, but further progress is needed, and achievable, through the widespread adoption of the 8 Actions for Change," O'Mara said.
Adaptability
Jim Bergin, chair of the Better Farming for Water Stakeholder Steering Group, said that Irish farmers have shown "remarkable adaptability over many decades to adopt change at farm level".
"Improving water quality is now one of the defining challenges facing our industry, and farmers in the Lee and Bandon-Ilen catchments are stepping up to the task," Bergin said.
"This plan provides the structure, support and shared purpose needed to deliver real improvements on the ground.
"By working together, we can secure the necessary improvements and protect the livelihoods and landscapes that underpin our rural communities."
Roy Kingston, chairperson of the Lee and Bandon -Ilen Implementation Group, added: “My family and I have been blessed to be stewards of our patch of the West Cork countryside.
"Our farm has operated on the River Bandon for four generations. I grew up appreciating the peace and tranquillity of those pleasant, flowing waters, full of life and vitality.
"It is our responsibility to pass our countryside to the next generation in that same good heart.
"The Better Farming for Water initiative will play a big part in ensuring a healthy, living countryside for generations to come.”
Action plan
At the launch, a comprehensive booklet was presented outlining the six pillars of the Lee and Bandon-Ilen Catchment Action Plan.
These include stakeholder engagement through a multi‑actor approach, enhanced awareness supported by detailed water-quality mapping, upskilling programmes for farmers, and more.
These pillars provide a "structured and collaborative framework" to deliver measurable improvements in water quality locally, while supporting Ireland’s ability to meet Nitrates Directive and Water Framework Directive requirements.
