Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

449. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if the River Lee basin management plan has been completed and submitted to the European Commission; the process that has been undertaken including public consultation; the body responsible for the preparation of such plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41230/16]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Pursuant to the European Union (Water Policy) Regulations 2014, I am responsible for the making of River Basin Management Plans (RBMPs) in accordance with Article 13 of the Water Framework Directive (Directive 2000/60/EC of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy). That Directive establishes a common framework for the protection of inland surface waters, transitional waters, coastal waters and groundwater. The overall aim of the Directive is to maintain high and good status waters where they exist and to restore waters that do not currently adequately support aquatic ecosystems. In the context of the ongoing development of the second- cycle RBMP for Ireland, for the period up to 2021, it is intended that there will be a single national River Basin District (RBD) resulting from a merger of the Eastern, South Eastern, South Western, Western and Shannon River Basin Districts that had been provided for in the first- cycle RBMPs. In addition, a single administrative area will be established for the purpose of co-ordinating water management with authorities in Northern Ireland for both the North Western and Neagh Bann International RBDs.

A draft single national RBMP is scheduled to be published in the coming weeks. A mandatory six-month public consultation process will then take place, with the finalised second-cycle RBMP due for completion by, approximately, the end of 2017. Once finalised, the second-cycle RBMP will be submitted to the European Commission within three months of its publication.