Expression of Interest

To express your interest in participating in the LIFE IP Waters of LIFE pilot agri environmental programme, fill out and submit your details below.

Click here for an information booklet on the agri-environmental programme

• I wish to express my interest in joining the LIFE IP Waters of LIFE pilot agri environmental programme.
• I authorise the Waters of LIFE Project Team, under the remit of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH) and associated beneficiary the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), to access my herd number, land parcel information and payment scheme participation from DAFM records in order to administer the LIFE IP Water of LIFE Pilot Agri-Environmental Programme.
• I understand that the data collected for this purpose will be held securely by LIFE IP Waters of LIFE for as long as there is a business need to do so, in line with the purpose(s) for which it was collected.
• The data provided for this purpose is being requested in order that an assessment of eligibility for participation in the LIFE IP-Waters of LIFE pilot agri environmental programme can be made. If I choose not to provide this consent I understand that my application for the LIFE IP-Waters of LIFE Pilot Agri Environmental programme cannot proceed.
• I understand that there is no guarantee that a contract offer will be made in response to this expression of interest.

The Waters of LIFE agri-environmental programme will be piloted in five demonstrations sub-catchments.

Click here to see if you’re in our Avonmore catchment in Co. Wicklow

Click here to see if you’re in our Awbeg (Kilbrin) catchment in Co. Cork

Click here to see if you’re in our Graney catchment in Co. Clare / Galway

Click here to see if you’re in our Islands catchment in Co. Galway / Roscommon

Click here to see if you’re in our Shournagh catchment in Co. Cork

Up to 600 farmers are being invited into the Waters of LIFE agri-environmental programme for water quality.

Only five sub-catchments in the country are eligible for the pilot including the Awbeg (Kilbrin) and the Shournagh. The Graney covers Clare, the Islands is in Galway and Roscommon while the Avonmore is in Wicklow.

Farmers can express their interest online or by contacting their local catchment scientist of advisor. There is no up-front commitment and the project will make contact with each farmer to discuss what they could expect to earn through the programme.

The programme focuses on greater outcomes for water quality under Ireland’s river basin management plan. It commences in early 2025 and will run for three years.

Waters of LIFE has introduced a payment rate of up to €2000 per hectare per year for a riverside habitat. It applies to a 10/10 score for a fenced or uncultivated strip on improved grassland or tillage plot. The maximum width is 20m.

Farmers who don’t have river frontage can be paid up to €400 per hectare for species-rich grassland, woodland and peatland. A riverside bonus of up to €3.20 per metre for a 10/10 plot is also paid out on these habitats.

All participating farmers can also receive payment through general actions, supporting actions and training.

General actions include runoff risk assessment, nutrient management planning and nutrient surplus recording. Farmers can also be paid for supporting actions including fencing, livestock drinking facilities, riverside tree planting, spatially targeted buffers, drain blocking, minimum tillage and catch crops.

Advisors will have an important role to play and the project is also encouraging locally based advisors to make contact. Payments to advisors will be administered directly by the programme to ensure farmers are not out of pocket.