EPA report finds 43% of farms were non-compliant with water quality regulations in 2025
In 2025, there were five prosecutions as a result of non-compliance with water quality regulations, according to the latest National Agricultural Inspection Programme (NAIP) report.
More than four in 10 farms inspected last year were found to be in breach of environmental regulations, according to the EPA.
The National Agricultural Inspection Programme (NAIP) Report published by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) details the findings of the farm inspections completed by local authorities in 2025, as required under the Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) for Protection of Waters Regulations.
The report found 43% of the 4,315 farms inspected in 2025 were non-compliant with relevant water quality regulations. Follow-up inspections by local authorities found 48% of these farms had remediated the issues and were compliant as a result.
The predominant issues continue to relate to the control of soiled water, discharges with potential to impact water quality, management of farmyard manure and slurry collection and storage, which collectively account for the majority of risks to water quality.
The most significant rise in observed non-compliances relates to the control of soiled water, with 1079 cases in 2025 from the 605 cases reported in 2024.
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A total of 2,935 enforcement actions were taken by local authorities in 2025. Arising from complaints, incidents and planning applications, 1,555 additional local authority inspections were completed.
A total of five prosecutions enforced by local authorities took place in 2025, a slight increase from the four reported the previous year. From those five prosecutions, two occurred in Co Monaghan, two in Co Kerry and one in Co Galway.
In the Monaghan cases, the non-compliance reasons for prosecution were the direct discharge with potential to impact water quality, control of soiled water, spreading of organic fertiliser and slurry collection and storage.
In the Kerry cases, reasons for non-compliance were the control of soiled water and spreading of organic fertiliser not meeting standards. Non-compliance for slurry collection and storage was the reason for prosecution in the Galway case.
The Department of Agriculture also carry out farm inspections on behalf of local authorities under the GAP regulations. The department carried out 631 farm inspections on behalf of the local authorities and identified 174 regulatory breaches.
As a result, 129 farms received penalties ranging from 1% to 40% of their Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) payments. One farm that refused inspection received a 100% penalty on their BISS payments.
The overall non-compliance rate in 2025 was 27.6%, an increase from 25% in 2024.
Commenting on the report, director of the EPA’s Office of Environmental Enforcement, Dr Tom Ryan, said: “The significant increase in the number of farm inspections carried out by local authorities in 2025 is welcomed. Agriculture remains a significant pressure on our water quality and the non-compliance rate found during inspections remains too high.
Farm compliance with the Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters Regulations is essential to protecting and improving water quality. In addition, a more consistent and sustained enforcement effort is needed across all local authorities to ensure full compliance with these regulations and to protect public health and the environment.”
