COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, July 09, 2018

HEADED ITEM NO.13a

HEADED ITEM: C. Performance and Change Management Directorate

RIVER BASIN MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR IRELAND 2018-2021

The European Communities Environmental Objectives (Surface Water) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 272 of 2009) and the European Communities Environmental Objectives (Groundwater) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 9 of 2010) establish the legal framework needed to implement the environmental objectives of the Water Framework Directive. They lay down the criteria and environmental quality standards for classifying water status and impose an obligation on public authorities to take the necessary steps to achieve the objectives set out in river basin management plans.

There was extensive public consultation nationally from February to September 2017 on the Draft River Basin Management Plan, presentations on the plan were delivered to the Environment SPC and the Area Committees during this period. On 17th April Minister Eoghan Murphy TD published the second River Basin Management Plan for Ireland 2018-2021 and we bring this to the Members attention. The Plan sets out the actions that Ireland will take to improve water quality and achieve ‘good’ ecological status in water bodies (rivers, lakes, estuaries and coastal waters) by 2027. Ireland is required to produce a river basin management plan under the Water Framework Directive (WFD).

The River Basin Management Plan outlines the new approach that Ireland will take to protect our waters over the period to 2021. It builds on lessons learned from the first planning cycle in a number of areas:

• Stronger and more effective delivery structures have been put in place to build the foundations and momentum for long-term improvements to water quality
• A new governance structure, which brings the policy, technical and implementation actors together with public and representative organisations. This will ensure the effective and coordinated delivery of measures. Progress on implementation will be tracked and information shared
• The Local Authority Waters and Community Office will help people to get involved in improving water quality at a local level and the Local Authority Support and Advice Office will drive improvements in prioritised areas and waterbodies.
• An Fóram Uisce, also newly established, is a forum for stakeholders, community groups and sectoral representatives. It will analyse and raise awareness of water issues.