Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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692. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when the third River Basin Management Plan for Ireland, to cover the EU Water Framework Directive third cycle, will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48836/23]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is currently finalising the text and Programme of Measures for the third River Basin Management Plan which will cover the Water Framework Directive (WFD) third cycle up to 2027. The delivery of a new revised and strengthened River Basin Management Plan is a key commitment in the Programme for Government, and will advance Ireland’s commitment to the implementation of the WFD.

The process of preparing the Plan has involved wide-ranging bilateral engagement with multiple Government departments, agencies, bodies, and stakeholders, along with an extensive public consultation process. The text of the Plan has been recently forwarded for final commentary to the Water Policy Advisory Committee (WPAC). WPAC provides high-level policy advice on the direction and oversight of implementation of the River Basin Management Plan, and also advises me with regard both to the progress of the plan and to the preparation of programmes of measures necessary to achieve the environmental objectives, while also examining wider water resource issues.

Following the receipt of final comments from WPAC, there are a number of stages required to be completed, including an appropriate assessment process, graphic design, Irish language translation, and finally Ministerial and government approval of the plan.

It is anticipated that the River Basin Management Plan will be launched in the coming months at the completion of this process.