Primary responsibility for the monitoring, management, protection and improvement of water quality is assigned to local authorities under the Local Government (Water Pollution) Acts and related legislation. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) exercises general supervision in relation to the performance of these functions by local authorities.
There is no doubting the necessity to ensure we address outstanding issues that impact on Ireland's water quality. For example, the EPA’s most recent report ‘Assessment of the catchments that need reductions in nitrogen concentrations to achieve water quality objectives’ has highlighted once again the serious challenges facing Ireland’s water environment.
My Department is working closely with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine on effective measures to reduce the loss of agricultural nutrients to water. These measures are set out in the
River Basin Management Plan 2018-2021 and will be strengthened by the next Plan (a draft of which will be published shortlly); the review of the Nitrates Action Programme currently underway; and in the forthcoming Common Agricultural Policy Strategic Plan.
Irish Water is also investing significantly in improved services and infrastructure through its Capital Investment Plan, including wherever urban waste water is causing an impact or is not meeting the required standards. The Irish Water Strategic Funding Plan sets out Irish Water’s multi-annual strategic funding requirement of €11bn to 2024, including €6.1bn investment in infrastructure and assets.
My Department has also improved targeted, risk based, financial supports to help bring domestic septic tanks up to standard.
With regard to the dredging at Waterford Port, a foreshore Licence was granted to the Port of Waterford Company for the purposes of carrying out maintenance dredging at various locations around the Waterford Estuary. The Licence covers the period 18 September 2020 to 31 December 2025. As part of the foreshore consenting process the potential environmental impacts of the maintenance dredging activities were assessed. Also, a Dumping at Sea Permit was granted to the Port by the EPA and will remain in force until 31 December 2025. As part of their consenting process, the EPA assessed the Port’s application for potential environmental impacts.
