Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore has called for a multi-agency response to reverse the creeping destruction of an environmentally sensitive site in County Wexford.
Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on biodiversity, said:
“It is heartbreaking to witness the critical state of Our Lady’s Island Lake, a historically and ecologically significant area which is facing severe degradation due to pollution.
“This brackish coastal lagoon, which is protected under the EU’s Habitat Directive, is renowned for its rich biodiversity and rare bird species, including the roseate term. However, the lake’s ecosystem is collapsing due to nutrient over-enrichment from agricultural runoff, leading to harmful algal blooms and fish kills.
“Such is the scale of the problem that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has warned that nutrient levels must be reduced by over 85 per cent to restore the lake to its former condition.
“The EPA report revealed that 60 tonnes of nitrogen enters the lagoon annually, and 1,500 tonnes have accumulated in the lake bottom sediment. A five to seven-fold reduction in nitrogen and phosphorus will be necessary to reverse the damage.
“Sadly, this is not the only lagoon in Ireland in ecological decline, with other sensitive sites in agricultural areas facing similar threats.
“But inexplicably, even in the face of widescale ecological damage, the government continues to push for the continuation of Ireland’s nitrates derogation – with a sixth extension expected to get the green light from the European Commission later this year.
“This is not about pointing the finger at farmers. What is happening in Wexford and other sites around the country is the direct result of government after government pushing farmers further down the intensification route.
“This lake’s decline not only threatens its ecological integrity but also poses a risk to local agriculture and tourism. The EPA’s report should have served as a wake-up call for the government and the local authority, but it has seemingly fallen on deaf ears.
“I am urging the government to oversee a coordinated approach by all the relevant stakeholders, involving the creation of a remediation plan between Wexford County Council, local farmers, the Department of Agriculture, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, the EPA, and all other State agencies that should be working together on this urgent issue.
“I have also called on the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to start work on a remedial plan to halt the further destruction of the lake.”
April 24, 2025