COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE (1)
Monday, September 21, 2009
HEADED ITEM NO. 6
HEADED ITEM: E. Services
Adoption of the Eastern River Basin District (ERBD) Plan
REPLY:
EASTERN RIVER BASIN DISTRICT PLAN 2009 - 2015
Report:
The EU Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC is being implemented across Europe and commits all member states to preventing deterioration and achieving at least good ecological status in all rivers, lakes, estuaries, coastal and ground waters by 2015 (target). The island of Ireland has been divided into eight river basin districts and a River Basin Management Plan has been developed for each. The plan is the latest in a series of documents implementing the Directive.
The Directive was transposed into Irish law by Statutory Instruments No. 722 of 2003, No.413 of 2005 and No. 219 of 2008. Dublin City Council was appointed co-ordinating Local Authority for the 12 Local Authorities in the ERBD by Article 3 of the Water Framework Directive as transposed by Article 6 of SI No. 722 of 2003 and accordingly Dublin City Council was also charged with the role as Contracting Authority for the ERBD contract. Camp Dresser McKee CDM (Ireland) Ltd. were appointed following EU public procurement as Contract Consultant/Service Provider for the ERBD. This Project was funded by Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government (DEHLG) as part of the Water Services Investment Programme (WSIP).
The Competent Authority specified in Article 3 of the EU Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC in relation to the Eastern River Basin District is the “twelve constituent relevant Local Authorities acting jointly “with Dublin City Council as Coordinating Authority for the purposes of the Establishment of Environmental Objectives and Programmes of Measures and the Making of the Eastern River Basin Management Plan in accordance with Articles 12 and 13 respectively of the transposing legislation being SI No. 722 of 2003 – European Communities (Water Policy) regulations 2003 as amended by SI No. 413 of 2005, SI No. 219 of 2008 and SI No. 272 of 2009.
The Making of the ERBD River Basin Management Plan and the Establishment of the ERBD Objectives and Programme of Measures as a reserved function of the elected representatives of South Dublin County Council at this time complies with the statutory timeline of 16th October 2009 as laid down in SI No. 219 of 2008. All necessary procedural and substantive requirements relating to the making of the Plan and the Establishment of Objectives and a Programme of Measures have been complied with including the parallel statutory processes relating to the Strategic Environmental Assessment of the Plan and an Appropriate Assessment of the Plan in compliance with Article 6 of the Habitats Directive.
The Draft River Basin Management Plan for the Eastern River Basin District was issued on 22nd December 2008 for a 6 month period of public consultation. The submissions received on the draft plan have been reviewed and incorporated into the final plan. This plan describes the actions that are proposed to ensure the necessary protection of our waters over the coming years. It sets out the pressures on the water bodies and the aims and objectives of improving the water quality and the ecology in the waters by means of a Programme of Measures. Public participation has been a major component of the work leading up to the development of the plan. Many public meetings have been held at various stages of the process and presentations have been made to Council, SPC’s and local Area committees.
In particular an Eastern River Basin District Advisory Council was set up. This Council was composed of 48 Members consisting of 24 Appointed Members being 2 from each of the twelve constituent Local Authorities in the ERBD, an additional 6 Appointed Members by the Association of Municipal Authorities in Ireland (AMAI) and 18 Co-opted Members following a Public Competition for representatives from the statutorily identified key sectoral pillars concerned with water resource management. The Council has been involved over the last 4 years and has provided valuable contributions to the development of the plan.
In 2015 a second plan will be prepared, learning from experience and success up to that point. Achievement of the full objective will take a number of such planning cycles and this recognises that it will take time for natural catchment ecology to grow and thrive after pollution pressures are addressed.
It is proposed to recommend that the Council notes the making of the plan at its October meeting for the first six year cycle from 22nd December 2009 to 22nd December 2015”