Vol. 526 No. 4
290 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government when he will implement the new EU water directive; if its implementation requires legislation; if so, when this will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26835/00]
The proposed directive establishing a framework for community action in the field of water policy, 2000/60/EC, has not yet been formally adopted. The proposed directive, generally known as the Water Framework Directive, WFD, was agreed by the European Council and the European Parliament in September 2000 and is now undergoing final legal and linguistic drafting. It is expected that the WFD will be formally adopted in the near future. Following formal adoption, the WFD will come into force on its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities. The directive will be implemented in accordance with its terms. The directive aims to achieve good water status, as defined, in all inland and coastal waters generally within a 15 year timeframe. It also sets intermediate targets for specific actions such as: three years for necessary laws and administrative provisions to be in place and river basin districts to be identified; four years for completion of an analysis of the characteristics of each river basin district, a review of the impacts of human activities on water status, an economic analysis of water use and a register of protected areas; six years for monitoring programmes to be established and operational; nine years for river basin management plans to be published and for programmes for water management measures to be established; and 12 years for programmes of measures to be fully operational.
A co-ordinated approach for implementation of the directive will be required between the relevant Departments and other public authorities with relevant water management functions. My Department will take a lead role in promoting and co-ordinating implementation. Proposals are being developed in my Department, in consultation with the authorities involved, as to the appropriate arrangements for implementation, including any necessary legislation. In particular my Department is promoting the establishment by local authorities of river basin management projects which will provide a major input to the development of river basin management plans and the general implementation of the directive. My Department is also involved in discussions with authorities in Northern Ireland regarding the implementation of the directive in relation to cross-Border waters. I envisage that legislation will be required for implementation of the directive and I aim to have appropriate legislative proposals developed and enacted within the three year timeframe provided by the directive.
Question No. 291 taken with Question No. 288.
