Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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1223. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the dedicated funding the Government has allocated for the implementation of the Nature Restoration Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46059/25]

Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South-West, Fianna Fail)
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The EU Nature Restoration Law (NRL) entered into force on 18 August 2024. It sets out a framework for EU Member States to restore nature, with binding targets for the restoration of a wide range of ecosystems including rivers, forests, oceans, urban and agricultural areas, as well as protected habitats and species. Ireland has until 1 September 2026 to submit a draft National Restoration Plan to the EU Commission, setting out how we intend to achieve these legally binding targets.

The process of developing this Plan is underway, and estimating the costs involved in implementing the Plan is part of the process. An Interdepartmental Working Group on Finance has been established to consider the financial aspects of the implementation of the Plan to 2030 and beyond. The work of the group includes a review of existing financial instruments and exploratory work on potential financial mechanisms and appropriate instruments to fund the delivery of the Plan, putting nature funding on a sustainable footing over the coming decades. An assessment of cost and benefits of compliance will form part of the development of the Plan.

This work is ongoing, and when completed, will provide financial information for a report containing recommendations on how the NRL targets can be met. While the Nature Restoration Plan remains under development it would be premature to make specific funding requests to effect its implementation.

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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1224. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government whether work has begun on a specific action plan to deal with the pollution at Lady’s Island Lake, County Wexford; whether the Minister of State responsible for Biodiversity will lead on that programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46062/25]

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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1225. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the cross-Departmental discussions that have taken place in relation to Lady’s Island Lake, County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46063/25]

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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1226. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government whether any funding will be set aside in the upcoming budget to tackle the pollution at Lady’s Island Lake, County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46064/25]

Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South-West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1224, 1225 and 1226 together.

Under my remit as Minister of State, my Department convened a meeting of officials which included, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) along with Wexford County Council, the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO) to establish an oversight group for Lady’s Island Lake. This group has met on multiple occasions and is led and chaired by Wexford County Council. Teagasc also recently joined the group. I have requested that Wexford County Council urgently prepares a specific action plan to deal with the pollution at the lake, which will follow the framework and mechanisms within the 2024 Water Action Plan.

As Lady’s Island Lake is a Priority Area for Action (PAA) under the existing 2024 Water Action Plan and, therefore, all mechanisms for undertaking scientific and compliance investigations, delivery of advice and implementing regulatory and supplementary measures under the Water Action Plan will be harnessed. This will involve very close engagement between Wexford County Council, LAWPRO, the Agricultural Sustainability Support and Advisory (ASSAP) and the Farming for Water European Innovation Partnership project.

Funding from my Department has already been provided to support a significant component of the action required through the provision of (i) National Agricultural Inspection Programme (NAIP) inspectors in the local authorities, who are responsible for investigating farm compliance with the Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) Regulations; (ii) free advice and support for farmers under the ASSAP co-funded by DAFM and my Department, and (iii) a national €60 million fund to support the implementation of supplementary measures through the Farming for Water EIP.

In addition, any potential further funding requirements will be considered on receipt of business cases from Wexford County Council.