A task force is being set up to address environmental issues in the Monaghan poultry sector.
Monaghan County Councillors agreed to form the group, despite criticism of the report that recommended the move.
The baseline study to identify the scale and environmental impact of the local poultry sector was commissioned by Monaghan County Council at the start of the year.
The findings were presented to councillors at this month's County Council meeting, and showed the county contains 70 per cent of the country's broiler farms, and 56 per cent of all egg-laying sites.
However it also found that with the projected future growth of the sector, there is a concern over ammonia emissions.
Such is the impact locally that the EPA recommends that no poultry licences be granted within 10km of three Natura 2000 sites, Sleabh Beagh, Kilrooskey Lough Cluster in Clones and Lough Oughter in Cavan.
The report recommended that the industry researches its emissions, investigates a sustainable alternative outlet for poultry manure and that a task force is set up to address these issues to prevent the industry migrating.
Councillors were unanimous in their criticism of the report saying it could lead to the closure of the industry, that farmers were being given no lead in time to the changes and that they were being forced to self-regulate.
However, they all agreed that the county council create a taskforce to work with farmers to find solutions.
A motion by Councillor PJ O'Hanlon to seek a Department of Agriculture representative on the task force was also supported.
