INVESTIGATION: Environmental Concerns Raised Over Moyvalley Meats Expansion Plans

In a letter to Kildare County Council on January 20, 2025, IFI Senior Fisheries Environmental Officer Noel McGloin raised concerns about the facility's expansion plans and its potential impact on water quality, specifically its ability to handle ammonia, which can be harmful to fish and other aquatic life.

Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) has strongly opposed the expansion of Moyvalley Meats, warning it could worsen pollution in the already struggling River Glash.

The planning application seeks permission to extend the facility in the townland of Tanderagee, Broadford by 342.61 square meters. It also includes a 505.1-square-meter expansion with a canteen, workshop, process area, and loading bay, along with changes to the seven-tank wastewater treatment plant, relocation of a truck wash facility, and installation of an electric gate, a backup generator container, and a stormwater attenuation tank. The company is also seeking to retain office space in a converted house on the property.

In a letter to Kildare County Council on January 20, 2025, IFI Senior Fisheries Environmental Officer Noel McGloin raised concerns about the facility's expansion plans and its potential impact on water quality, specifically its ability to handle ammonia, which can be harmful to fish and other aquatic life.

IFI pointed out that the River Glash has been classified as having poor ecological status since 2020 and is home to species such as Atlantic Salmon, Brown Trout, eels, and lamprey eels. The agency warned that more pollution could be toxic to these habitats and recommended that the planning application be refused. They cited potential breaches of environmental laws, including the EU Water Framework Directive and the 2009 Surface Water Regulations, which are meant to protect water quality and prevent further deterioration, if planning permission were to be granted.

Contacted by Kfm, an Inland Fisheries Ireland statement said that the application in question is in proximity to the River Glash which suffers from "poor status" (2020). IFI observations regarding the Moyvalley Meats application included a request that the application would be refused on the grounds there is "insufficient assimilation capacity for ammonia in the River Glash and that can prove toxic to the fisheries habitat in the receiving waters", they said.

The IFI statement added: "Ammonia is generally present in natural waters, though in very small amounts. When present in natural waters above certain levels, contamination may be indicated. Exposure of fish to ammonia can lead to respiratory distress, reduced immune function, and damage to gills/other organs. Managing ammonia levels is crucial for maintaining a healthy aquatic environment"

Kfm also spoke to concerned locals, Paddy Maguire of the Broadford Area Resident's Association (BARA) and Michelle Kane of the Balyna Environmental Action Group (BEAG).

Both cited concerns over potential water quality issues, as well as the impact ammonia could have on aquatic life in the River Glash.

Kildare County Council has since asked Moyvalley Meats to provide a detailed response addressing these concerns. In a request for further information issued on February 14, 2025, the council noted IFI's serious concerns about ammonia levels in the River Glash and asked the company to explain how its operations would avoid harming the river.

The company has also been told to show on a site layout plan detailed layouts of the wastewater distribution/discharge system serving the facility, all the way to the River Glash.

In addition to concerns about water pollution, Kildare County Council has also asked for a revised Odour Impact Assessment for the entire facility, as it is aware of complaints from local residents about odours coming from the site.

A 2023 Suitability Assessment Report on behalf of Moyvalley Meats' wastewater treatment plant identified multiple operational problems. The wastewater treatment plant, which treats wastewater from the abattoir before discharging it into the River Glash, is licensed under EPA Register No. P0192-02 and must comply with strict discharge limits. While the report found that wastewater quality generally met legal requirements, it highlighted major issues, including outdated and failing equipment, particularly aerators, which are essential for treating ammonia. It also found a lack of proper monitoring systems for key water quality indicators like dissolved oxygen and pH levels, as well as issues with over-aeration in some tanks and under-aeration in others.

The report also raised concerns about faulty flow meters, as they are "failing calibration and are no longer reliable". 

It also stated that the facility's balance tank, which is a major source of odour and lacks proper containment. The report recommended urgent upgrades, including replacing old aerators, installing a SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) system for better monitoring, and fixing the failing flow meters to prevent inaccurate data that could lead to operational errors.

A company was also commissioned last year by Moyvalley Meats Ireland to carry out a Water Framework Directive Screening Assessment.

The report's findings stated that the "proposed development has an indirect hydrological connection to the River Glash and Boyne as the existing stormwater drainage discharges into the River Glash c. 350 m downstream.There are mitigation and design measures which will be implemented during the construction phase to protect the hydrological and hydrogeological environment."

It added: "There is a potential of accidental discharges during the construction phase, however these are temporary short-lived events that will not impact on the water status of waterbodies long-term and as such will not impact on trends in water quality and over all status assessment."

It further stated that "based on the current understanding of the proposed development, there is no potential for adverse or minor temporary/ long-term or localised effects on the River Glash and River Boyne surface water body."

Kildare County Council has asked Moyvalley Meats to confirm whether it will follow the recommended odour control measures and to provide proof that the facility is complying with its Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) license. The council has also requested the Environmental Impact Assessment Screening Report, which was mentioned in the company's application but not included in the submission.

The Council has emphasised that its request for further information does not mean the application has been approved.

Moyvalley Meats has six months to provide the requested information, or the application will be considered withdrawn.

If the company submits new data that significantly changes the original application, the proposal might have to be re-advertised for public review under planning laws.

When asked for comment by Kfm, Kildare County Council stated that because the facility is licensed by the EPA and part of an active planning application, it could not provide further details at this time.

In a response letter to Kfm's queries, Moyvalley Meats' legal representatives stated that the company “operates its business on foot of an EPA licence… “that it would not be appropriate for Moyvalley to comment on matters related to the planning application, while that application is pending …”and  "All issues raised by the Planning Authority in the course of that application will be fully addressed by Moyvalley as part of the planning process."