John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

1196. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will outline the Government’s position on the proposed changes to water quality standards under the current public consultation; if he will address concerns raised by angling and tourism groups regarding deteriorating water conditions, fish kills, and enforcement of environmental protections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45744/25]

Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South-West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

My Department recently conducted a public consultation on proposed designations of Heavily Modified Water Bodies (HMWBs). The consultation was not concerned with proposed amendments to water quality standards. The purpose of the HMWB consultation was to gather the public’s views on the proposed designation of Heavily Modified Water Bodies, where they have been physically modified in the past to serve a beneficial specified use to society.

With regard to the concerns raised by angling and tourism groups regarding deteriorating water conditions, fish kills, and enforcement of environmental protection I draw attention to the provisions of the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) which establishes a framework for the protection of all waters, including rivers, lakes, estuaries, coastal waters and groundwater, and their dependent wildlife/habitats under one piece of environmental legislation. The WFD aims to achieve these goals by means of successive river basin management plans, which set out programmes of environmental measures to stabilise and improve water quality within defined catchments.

On a national level a new revised and strengthened River Basin Management Plan, called the 2024 Water Action Plan, was launched by my Department in September 2024. The Water Action Plan is a strategic plan that outlines the national policies and high level goals that will protect and restore our natural waters up to 2027, and advances Ireland’s commitment to the implementation of the WFD. The aim of the plan is the identification and implementation of the “right measure in the right place”, and contains targeted measures to both restore and protect all water bodies. It will be supported by the integrated catchment approach through the development of Sectoral Action Work Plans and Catchment Management Work Plans by the Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO).