Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 January 2022
134. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the planned timeframe for the various stages of the next River Basin Management Plan for Ireland once the current public consultation stage is over; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3245/22]
View answerMy Department is currently preparing the third River Basin Management Plan for Ireland, to cover the period 2022 – 2027. A key commitment in the new Programme for Government, a new revised and strengthened River Basin Management Plan will advance Ireland’s commitment to the implementation of the Water Framework Directive .
Building on the work of the second-cycle, this plan will again describe the main pressures and activities affecting water status and set out the environmental objectives to be achieved up to 2027 and identify the measures needed to achieve these objectives, including those highlighted by the EPA.
I published the draft plan in September 2021 for a six month consultation period which will end on 31 March 2022.
On 17 January 2022, my Department hosted an online stakeholder event as part of the wider ongoing engagement with stakeholders and advisory groups on the production of the third River Basin Management Plan for Ireland.
Also during the public consultation phase, the Local Authority Waters Programme is hosting regional town hall meetings to gather the views of local communities. Details of these community engagements will be available on www.LAwaters.ie. My Department will also engage in further stakeholder meetings, such as our ongoing engagements with An Fóram Uisce, throughout the consultation period and beyond to ensure the identified measures are appropriate to meet the challenges ahead.
Following the public consultation phase the draft plan will be revised, taking on board public consultation outcomes, with a view to publication as soon as possible.
