Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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1141.To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government for an update on the work being undertaken by his Department to improve bathing water quality. [32798/24]

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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My Department is currently finalising Ireland’s third-cycle River Basin Management Plan, which will be a strategic government plan that will outline the national policies and high-level goals that will protect and restore our natural waters. The aim of the next plan is the identification and implementation of the “right measure in the right place”, with targeted measures to both restore and protect all water bodies, which will be supported by the integrated catchment approach through the development of catchment management plans by the Local Authorities Waters Programme (LAWPRO). This new revised and strengthened River Basin Management Plan will advance Ireland’s commitment to the implementation of the Water Framework Directive.

The latest EPA Bathing Water Report for 2023 shows that there are continued improvements in the quality of our designated bathing waters. The quality of Ireland’s bathing water is very high overall with 97% (143 of 148) of sites meeting or exceeding the minimum standard. Of these 114 (77%) had excellent water quality.

There were five bathing sites with poor bathing water quality in 2023. Discharges from wastewater overflows and misconnections are the main issue at these beaches.

In terms of protecting our water resources, primary responsibility for the monitoring, management, protection and improvement of water quality is assigned to local authorities under the Local Government (Water Pollution) Acts and related legislation. Local authorities also have responsibility for the management of bathing waters under the Bathing Water Quality Regulations 2008.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), through its Office of Environmental Enforcement, exercises general supervision in relation to the performance of these functions by local authorities.

Uisce éireann has statutory responsibility for all aspects of public water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. The scope, prioritisation and progression of individual projects are a matter for Uisce éireann, and are approved through its own internal governance structures. Continued investment in wastewater infrastructure is essential, with Uisce éireann investing over €2.3billion over the period 2020-2024.