The EU water framework directive, WFD, is being implemented in accordance with the timescales specified by the directive. The first implementation deadline occurred on 22 December 2003 and related to the transposition of the WFD into national law, the establishment of river basin districts and the identification of the competent authorities. These tasks were completed by the specified date.
Work is under way by my Department, the Environmental Protection Agency, local authorities and other bodies, in association with the appropriate authorities in Northern Ireland, for the timely delivery of all tasks specified for completion in 2004, and subsequently in relation to all river basin districts, RBDs, including the adoption of river basin management plans as required by 2009.
The WFD has been transposed into national law by the European Communities (Water Policy) Regulations 2003 which were made on 22 December 2003. The regulations assign responsibilities to the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, the Environmental Protection Agency, local authorities and other public authorities for carrying out the main tasks required by the WFD in accordance with the timescales laid down by the directive. Similar regulations were made by the relevant authorities in Northern Ireland on the same day.
The regulations specify the following tasks for completion in 2004: the protection of the status of all waters — that is, no deterioration to be allowed; the establishment of RBDs as the administrative areas for implementation of the directive, including international RBDs in relation to cross-Border river basins; the co-ordination of actions by all relevant public authorities for water quality management in an RBD including cross-Border RBDs; the characterisation of each RBD; the establishment of environmental objectives for each RBD and the development of a programme of measures to achieve those objectives; the development and adoption in each RBD of a river basin management plan; provision of reports to the European Commission as required; identification of pressures and impacts; carrying out of an economic analysis of water use; definition of reference conditions for good water status; identification of locations and boundaries of water bodies; establishment of a register of protected areas.
Work is in hand by my Department, the Environmental Protection Agency, local authorities and a range of other bodies to complete the specified tasks by the prescribed deadlines. The work is being progressed in a wide range of initiatives and activities including river basin district projects; research projects; inter-authority working groups and technical advisory committees operating at the following levels: river basin district, national level, North-South, Ireland-United Kingdom, European Union.
Financial support at a rate of 100% is being provided by my Department in relation to expenditure incurred by local authorities in establishing river basin district projects. Overall WFD implementation costs up to the end of 2006 to be funded by my Department are estimated at €55 million. River basin district projects have been established for the south-eastern region — Barrow, Nore, Suir, Slaney river basins and others — approved March 2002, operational since September 2002; Shannon river basin, approved November 2002, operational since January 2003; eastern region — Avoca-Vartry, Boyne, Nanny, Dartry, Dodder and Liffey — approved April 2003, operational since June 2003; western region — Loughs Arrow, Carrowmore, Conn, Corrib and Mask, river systems such as the Bonet, Clare, Robe, Moy and Owenmore — approved March 2004, operational since April 2004.
In January 2004 a project was approved in principle for the establishment of a river basin district project in relation to the south western region — Bandon; Blackwater, Munster; Lee and Laune and the Lakes of Killarney. Formal approval of this project is expected to be granted in the near future.
The North-South shared aquatic resource, NS-SHARE, now forms an important element for implementation of the WFD in cross-Border areas and for North-South co-operation in the international river basin districts, IRBDs, designated under the WFD. The project is intended to develop and implement working tools for water management in relation to shared waters in the Neagh Bann IRBD, the north western IRBD and the north eastern RBD and to make recommendations for their use in support of improved inter-regional capacity for environmental monitoring and management. Donegal County Council acting as the lead agency submitted a proposal for funding of the NS-SHARE project under the EU INTERREG IIIA programme. The project was given final approval by the INTERREG IIIA steering committee in April 2004. Consultants have now been appointed and the project commenced on 1 August 2004.
In total there are eight river basin districts on the island of Ireland, four of which are wholly in the Republic, one wholly in Northern Ireland and three shared cross-Border districts. The whole picture will be completed shortly by the commencement of additional projects specifically in relation to coastal and marine waters.
The transposing regulations require the establishment by local authorities of an advisory council in each river basin district. These councils are intended to provide a permanent, structured framework for dialogue between the relevant authorities and interested parties. The membership of the councils will comprise local authority members and representatives of sectors such as agriculture, industry, and environmental NGOs. Guidelines for the establishment of the advisory councils are being prepared in my Department and draft guidelines were issued for public consultation on 30 June 2004 with comments requested by end-August 2004.
My Department presented a seminar on 30 June 2004 in relation to implementation of the water framework directive. The seminar provided a forum for consultation, exchange of information and dialogue with all interested parties in relation to the measures being pursued for implementation of the directive. In addition, a website, www.wfdireland.ie, has been developed to facilitate public access to information on the implementation of the directive and measures are being taken to promote and facilitate participation by all interested persons.