Thomas Lyons 
The Irish government is being urged to ensure that farmers are fully informed about new regulations under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) concerning the registration of water abstraction points above a certain threshold. Currently, anyone who abstracts 25m3 or 25,000L of water per day from a river, lake, stream, spring, groundwater well, borehole, or estuary is required to register this abstraction with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). However, it is now a conditionality under the new CAP for farmers to do so. This requirement falls under the statutory management requirements (SMR) of the conditionality to receive full direct payments, specifically SMR 1 and SMR 2. SMRs 1 and 2 directly concern the efficient use and management of water through specific rules for water abstraction points and measures to promote good agricultural practices for the protection of waters.
According to Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027, controls under SMR 1 include checks on water abstraction points and diffuse sources liable to cause pollution. However, the fact that water abstraction regulations are now part of CAP conditionality seems to have gone somewhat under the radar. Speaking to Agriland, Paul O’Brien, the environment chairperson for the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA), called for engagement between the relevant authorities and farmers to ensure that farmers are fully aware of their obligations when it comes to water abstraction. “Most certainly, from an IFA’s point of view, we would be looking for a certain level of awareness around this, so farmers who may be deemed in need of registering for this would be given time to be able to apply,” O’Brien said. He added: “What we need is information out there so that farmers who may be impacted by this [CAP] requirement are informed…so that their BISS payment going forward is not impacted when payments are normally scheduled to arrive in farmers’ bank accounts. There needs to be information presented to these farmers, that they may or may not fall under this new [CAP] requirement,” the IFA environment chair commented.
The new CAP regulations have important implications for farmers who abstract water above the specified threshold. Failure to comply with the new regulations could result in the loss of direct payments. It is therefore essential that farmers are made aware of their obligations under the new CAP and are given sufficient time to register their water abstraction points with the EPA. The IFA has called for the relevant authorities to engage with farmers to ensure that they are fully informed about the new regulations and are able to comply with them in a timely manner.
The efficient use and management of water is a key priority for the Irish government, and the new CAP regulations are an important step towards achieving this goal. By requiring farmers to register their water abstraction points, the government is taking an important step towards protecting Ireland’s water resources and ensuring that they are used in a sustainable and responsible manner. However, it is essential that farmers are fully informed about their obligations under the new regulations and are given sufficient time to comply with them. The government must work closely with the IFA and other relevant stakeholders to ensure that farmers are fully aware of the new regulations and are able to comply with them in a timely and efficient manner.
In conclusion, the new CAP regulations concerning the registration of water abstraction points are an important step towards ensuring the efficient use and management of water in Ireland. However, it is essential that farmers are fully informed about their obligations under the new regulations and are given sufficient time to comply with them. The government must work closely with the IFA and other relevant stakeholders to ensure that farmers are fully aware of the new regulations and are able to comply with them in a timely and efficient manner. Failure to do so could result in the loss of direct payments and have serious implications for the sustainability of Ireland’s water resources.
