Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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121. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his position on the removal or bypassing of man-made barriers on the River Blackwater, in line with the EU’s objectives for free-flowing rivers under the Water Framework Directive.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34842/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The Water Action Plan 2024 published by my Department sets out a roadmap to restore Ireland’s water bodies (rivers, lakes, estuaries and coastal waters) to ‘good status’ or better and to protect water from any further deterioration as required under the Water Framework Directive (WFD).

Currently there are 448 water bodies that are at risk of not achieving their environmental objectives under the WFD because of pressures on their hydromorphology. Hydromorphology is a broad subject that relates to the flow, form and function of water. River barriers and fish passage fall under this subject.

There are ambitious targets outlined in the Water Action Plan with respect to the mitigation of river barriers. There are two main projects; the National Barriers Programme and the National Barriers Mitigation Programme. Both are led by Inland Fisheries Ireland with the support of my Department and the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment.

Any proposed barrier mitigation projects on the River Blackwater will be considered by Inland Fisheries Ireland.