Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 June 2023
650. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he or his Department have had any correspondence or discussion with officials from Northern Ireland in relation to defective slurry/effluent tanks built and operated in Northern Ireland which discharge into waterways feeding into the South; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27109/23]
View answer651. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he can detail how compliance with EU nitrates directives and other environmental protection regulations are enforced or monitored along the Border counties when potential harmful discharges into waterways may be occurring in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27111/23]
View answer652. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he can detail in the event of pollution and damage being caused to waterways in the Republic of Ireland from effluent originating in Northern Ireland the actions his Department or the State can take at EU level or with UK authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27113/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 650 to 652, inclusive, together.
My Department and I have not received any correspondence or had discussions with officials from Northern Ireland in relation to defective slurry/effluent tanks.
In terms of protecting our water resources, 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.
My Department is currently preparing Ireland’s third-cycle River Basin Management Plan, which will be a strategic government plan that will outline the national policies and high-level goals that will protect and restore our natural waters. The aim of the next plan is the identification and implementation of the “right measure in the right place”, with targeted measures to both restore and protect all waterbodies, which will be supported by the integrated catchment approach through the development of catchment management plans by the Local Authorities Waters Programme (LAWPRO). This new revised and strengthened River Basin Management Plan will advance Ireland’s commitment to the implementation of the Water Framework Directive.
Following the withdrawal of the UK from the European Union (EU), retained EU law came into effect in the UK on 1 January 2021, preserving environmental standards in domestic UK legislation, and ensuring parity with EU standards at point of exit. With the Water Framework Directive transposed into UK law, the agencies in Northern Ireland are continuing with the implementation of their river basin management plan.
Currently, Ireland shares two river basin districts (RBD) with Northern Ireland. The Neagh Bann International RBD has 35 shared waterbodies. The North Western International RBD has 85 shared waterbodies. Substantial areas lie within cross-border river basins in Ireland, with waters in each jurisdiction flowing into or through the other jurisdiction.
Question No. 651 answered with Question No. 650.
