Multiple environmental inspections carried out at dairy plants in Tipperary

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) conducted multiple inspections at Arrabawn Tipperary Co-Operative Society Limited facilities in Nenagh and Tipperary Town during 2025 as part of its industrial emissions enforcement programme.

The activity forms part of national enforcement measures outlined in the EPA Industrial and Waste Licence Enforcement Summary Report for 2025. A total of 1,681 inspections were carried out across 656 licensed sites during the year.

Both Arrabawn installations were among those inspected 10 times or more. The Nenagh facility, operating under Industrial Emissions Licence P0791, was inspected 14 times, while the Tipperary Town facility, operating under Licence P0801, was inspected 13 times. The inspections were linked to discharges to water.

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The Nenagh installation at Stafford Street is licensed for the treatment and processing of milk in quantities exceeding 200 tonnes per day. The Tipperary Town installation at Station Road is licensed for the same activity at the same production threshold.

Following the merger of Arrabawn Co-Operative Society Limited and Tipperary Co-Operative Creamery Limited, both licences were transferred to Arrabawn Tipperary Co-Operative Society Limited in 2025.

A site inspection at the Nenagh facility on 24 April 2025 identified non-compliances with licence conditions. Stormwater gullies across the site were observed to contain sludge and required cleaning. Disinfectant foam from boot cleaning systems was observed entering drains without a collection system in place.

This issue had been identified during a previous inspection and corrective action had not been implemented. The inspection also recorded that the Industrial Emissions licence required transfer following the merger completed on 28 February 2025.

A site inspection at the Tipperary Town facility was carried out on 1 July 2025 under Licence P0801.

A Category 1 incident was recorded at the Tipperary Town installation in September 2025. The incident involved a breach of an emission limit value and an increase in ammonia levels downstream associated with an uncontrolled release to water.

In 2024, an incident at the same installation involved the discharge of untreated effluent to the River Ara and resulted in EPA inspection and notification of other authorities.

EPA enforcement activity in 2025 identified discharges to water as a key compliance issue across licensed industrial sites. Inspections in the food and drink sector, including dairy processing facilities, focused on the management of emissions to water and compliance with emission limit values.

The Nenagh facility has been subject to enforcement action, including prosecution by the EPA in September 2024 for breaches of licence conditions. The Tipperary Town facility has also been subject to enforcement action, including prosecution in 2021 for breaches of licence conditions.