Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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260. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the safeguards in place to improve the water quality in rivers and lakes throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60792/25]

Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South-West, Fianna Fail)
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On a national level a new revised and strengthened River Basin Management Plan, the Water Action Plan 2024, was launched by my Department in September 2024. The Water Action Plan is a strategic government 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 EU Water Framework Directive (WFD).

The aim of the plan is the identification and implementation of the “right measure in the right place”. The Plan contains targeted measures to both restore and protect all waterbodies, which will be supported by the integrated catchment approach through the development of Sectoral Action Work Plans and Catchment Management Work Plans. The Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO), which is funded by my Department, coordinates efforts among Local Authorities to achieve good or high water quality in our water bodies.

The ‘Water Quality In Ireland’ report published in October 2025 by the Environmental Protection Agency summarised water quality for the period 2019 to 2024. 52% of surface waters in Ireland are currently meeting their Water Framework Directive target, compared to 54% in the previous period for 2016-2021. While this is an overall decline, water quality has improved in some areas since the previous assessment period. The main impacts to our waters are excess phosphorous and nitrogen, due to agriculture and waste water, while activities impacting physical habitats are also an issue.

The Water Action Plan’s Programme of Measures contains specific actions to address the different pressures on water quality.

Measures introduced to help address the impact of agriculture on our water quality include the Fifth Nitrates Action Programme (NAP), which allowed for the establishment of a national chemical fertiliser database, including tighter controls on the application and methods of application of chemical nitrogen fertilisers and slurry. The Fifth NAP also included the establishment of the National Agricultural Inspection Programme, funding an additional 57 local authority inspectors with an aim of carrying out inspections of 4,500 farms per annum. These inspections are targeted where there is a risk of impact on water quality using EPA information. The Sixth NAP is currently being developed to be in place from January 2026 and a public consultation has recently started. This programme will lead to further reductions in nutrient losses to water as a result of the implementation of new and strengthened measures.

A Water European Innovation Partnership (EIP) project “Farming for Water” was launched last year. The project focuses on reducing losses of phosphorous, nitrogen, sediment and, where relevant, pesticides to water from agricultural lands by promoting the adoption of innovative best practice in nutrient management, and measures such as the application of Nature-based solutions. The project will aim to support up to 15,000 farmers in implementing water protection measures. All of these initiatives will contribute to the reduction of agriculture as a pressure on our water quality.

In terms of addressing the physical habitats of natural water bodies a new National Hydromorphology Programme has been established with the long-term vision of mitigating the negative impact of past construction on rivers to restore their “flow, form and function”. Inland Fisheries Ireland, with co-funding from my Department has launched the National Barrier Mitigation Programme, which is being supported by a dedicated Hydromorphology Expert Group, which includes representation from all key stakeholders in this area.

This Government is also delivering a sustainable funding path to further enhance the ongoing significant improvements in our public water and wastewater services, including addressing environmental compliance issues such as upgrading Waste Water Treatment Plants. Uisce Éireann has set out an ambitious programme of water infrastructure development and upgrades under its new Strategic Funding Plan, and this will be further enhanced through the multi-billion euro allocation it is receiving under the revised National Development Plan launched in July.

It is important to note that Uisce Éireann has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. The scope, prioritisation and progression of individual projects and operational issues is a matter for Uisce Éireann and is approved through its own Board and internal governance structures.