Pollution control and water quality management functions have been assigned principally to the major local authorities; these are now supported at national level by the Environmental Protection Agency and by the regional authorities.
The Water Pollution Acts, 1977 and 1990, permit a co-ordinated approach to the development of water quality management plans. The statutory management plans which have been jointly adopted by the local authorities concerned for the upper Shannon area and the Shannon Estuary reflect this co-ordinated approach.
I have indicated that I favour an integrated approach to water quality management, particularly in relation to lake catchments. I intend to announce pilot projects on these lines in the near future. However, the overall River Shannon catchment, because of its size and diversity, would present difficulties for a new administrative structure which would have to interact with existing bodies having responsibility for pollution control and environmental management. I have no proposal at present for such a new structure or body.