Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Dr. Cotter referenced figures showing a significant increase in nitrate levels. The graphs on page 6 of the report show that on a national basis, nitrogen concentration went from 14.1 mg to 14.6 mg in the period 2010 to 2022. There was an increase in the drought in 2018, but the figures clearly show that there is no trend of any increase in nitrate concentration in water nationally, in spite of a very significant increase in cow numbers. In her last response to Senator Lombard, Dr. Cotter said there has been a national deterioration in water quality. That is not correct. According to the EU's assessment of water quality, if water quality stays within a range of -1 to +1 over a three-year period, there is no discernible change in water quality. It is very clear, from the graph supplied by the EPA, that for the 12-year period from 2010 to 2022, the nitrogen concentration in Irish water did not change, even though there has been very significant increase in dairy cow numbers.