A recently published report has shown that Sligo County Council did not undertake any planned farm inspections in 2023.
This is according to a local authority enforcement audit report of Sligo County Council that was conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
According to the report that audited the county council, complaints were investigated and followed up and planning applications relating to farming activities were assessed, but no planned farm inspections were undertaken last year.
However, some non-compliances were detected during complaint investigations and some water quality promotion/awareness activity was demonstrated.
Sligo County Council advised that extra resourcing has now been assigned to this area for 2024.
The audit report also revealed that there was no demonstration of planned landspreading surveillance activities or detection campaigns in 2023.
The EPA has stated that Sligo County Council shall ensure that:
- Agricultural resources are used effectively to achieve the aims of the National Agricultural Inspections Programme (NAIP);
- Carry out agricultural inspections;
- Undertake surveillance and detection activities;
- Implement associated enforcement actions where required;
- Undertake ‘good farming practice’ awareness and promotional activities.
Farm inspections
On a national basis, the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine (DAFM) carry out a number of farm inspections each year to examine compliance with the provisions of the Good Agricultural Practice for the Protection of Waters Regulations 2017.
This is supplemented by local authority inspections under requirements detailed in national water pollution prevention programmes.
Duplication of inspections is avoided through the DAFM informing local authorities of the farms they will be inspecting in any given year.
Local authorities have been designated as the responsible authorities for enforcement of the regulations and issues of non-compliance with the regulations will be forwarded to local authorities by the DAFM.
In addition, under national reporting procedures agreed, local authorities are required to report non-compliance issues to the cross compliance section of the DAFM.
Financial penalties may be imposed on farm payments depending on the extent and severity of the non-compliance.