The latest environment report from Cork County Council shows that there were 341 farm inspections and 178 NAIP (National Agricultural Inspection Programme) visits carried out in 2025 by the council in the West Cork district.

NAIP inspections are specifically targeted towards water quality, and 51% of West Cork farms had non-compliance in this regard. 10 reports were sent on to the Department of Agriculture as a result.

In the Bandon/Kinsale district, there were 78 NAIP inspections last year with a 50% non-compliance rate, and in the Macroom district there was a failure rate of 21%, of 38 NAIP visits.

The highest failure rate in the country was in the Fermoy district, where there was a 71% non-compliance rate and Mallow/Kanturk, with 56%.

Across the county of Cork, the overall failure rate for water quality inspections was 53% in 2025.

Across Cork, the most common reason for a failure was the inadequate storage of dirty water, followed by the inadequate management of manure.

Other common reasons for failure were unsuitable slurry collection and storage, discharge from the farms that could impact water quality, and three incidences of spreading slurry or dirty water at the wrong time.