Master plan for water framework directive activities in Ireland leading to River Basin Management Plans

The water framework directive master plan (WFDMP) in Ireland is being developed jointly by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (DEHLG), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the River Basin District (RBD) competent authorities (namely lead Local Authorities) and stakeholders including the relevant public authorities. The WFDMP was recently adopted by the National Technical Coordination Group (NTCG) and has been uploaded onto the website (www.wfdireland.ie) as the fundamental document coordinating WFD related activities in Ireland leading to the River Basin Management Plans (RBMP). There are eight River Basin Districts (RBD) covering the entire island of Ireland and accordingly there will be eight River Basin Management Plans (RBMP). Key elements of the new ecological approach to adaptive management of water resources are in focus namely public participation and integrated water resources planning. The WFDMP sets out the overall work plan required to meet the Republic of Ireland’s obligations under the WFD and associated national Water Policy Regulations (SI No. 722 of 2003) which transposed the WFD into Irish law and very close co-operation with the UK authorities is essential to ensure harmonization for three of the RBDs that straddle the border with Northern Ireland (NI) with one RBD being entirely within NI. Having successfully completed Article 3 (designate RBD areas and Competent Authorities), 5 (Characterisation) and 6 (Register of Protected Areas) requirements, the following prerequisite deadlines and milestones lie ahead leading to the production of the first River Basin Management Plans (RBMP) in 2009: (a) classification systems (including EQS for priority substances), (b) programme of monitoring, (c) timetable and work programme for production of RBMP, (d) Overview of the significant water management issues (SWMI) in RBDs (for purpose of public information and consultation), (e) draft RBMP, (f) environmental objectives, (g) programme of measures and (h) RBMPs.

This description of Ireland’s WFDMP, inclusive of its EMS component, demonstrates the degree of attention being paid to the WFD in Fig. 3. Using the River Basin Management System to interact with government officials and public stakeholders to arrive at acceptable POMs. Ireland pursuant to its commitment to continual improvement of Irish waters. However, Ireland, like the other Member States of the European Union, is faced with unprecedented challenges related to: • Comprehensively assessing compliance with and effectiveness of existing state, regional and local water resources management policies, laws and measures; • Analysing the cost effectiveness of various combinations of management measures and assessing the regional and economic sector distributions of their potential impacts; • Adapting existing legal institutions and/or introducing new institutions to ensure future water resources management and planning is effective at the river basin level; and • Harnessing local expertise and establishing vertical communications between interested parties and institutions in the river basin planning and management process. Given the relatively novel nature of some of these requirements in Ireland, attainment of these goals may not be immediate. But it is certain that Ireland is committed to coordinating and compounding the knowledge and experience currently developing to meet these challenges in Ireland and amongst its Member State neighbours.