The Green Party has welcomed the latest Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Early Insights Nitrogen Indicator report which detailed a reduction in levels in 20 rivers.

The report published earlier this week showed that nitrogen levels in rivers in 2024 had improved.

However it also outlined that nitrogen remains too high in the south-eastern half of the country, according to the EPA.

The Green Party warned today (Friday, March 21) that if "rapid deployment of measures to reverse the trend" in south eastern are not implemented, then Ireland "would lose it’s nitrates derogation".

Party leader Roderic O' Gorman said" ‘While we welcome this latest report, we are seeing a worrying stubbornness on nitrates in rivers in the south east.

"Government must put in place the mechanisms to support farmers to reduce nitrogen entering watercourses".

He believes this can be achieved "even in dairy intensive areas but it will require laser focused collaborative actions".

The former Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Electrical Reform and currently Green Party senator, Malcolm Noonan, said that when he launched Ireland’s Water Action Plan last year, he warned that it "was the only game in town for improving water quality".

Senator Noonan also said that the Water Action Plan is a vital factor in "restoring free flowing rivers and ensuring that we do not lose a derogation vital to rural Ireland".

He added: "Targeted actions and measures work.

The Green Party today also voiced its criticism of the government for "not publishing details of the breakdown of the Climate and Nature Fund" which was agreed during the last coalition government.

It believes the €3.15 billion fund "could go some way towards supporting on farm actions and measures to improve water quality".