Two key steps have been announced in Ireland's implementation of the Water Framework Directive (WFD).

The Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government, Alan Kelly, published a consultation document on the Timetable and Work Programme for the development of the 2nd cycle of River Basin Management Plans.

HE has also made new Regulations which re-assign functional responsibility for WFD implementation to local authorities, to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and to the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government.

The first cycle of River Basin Management Plans for Ireland was published in July 2010 and planning for the second cycle is underway. The consultation document seeks the input of interested parties on the approach proposed for the second cycle of plans which will be adopted in 2017 and will run until 2021.

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Following a review of first cycle structures, new governance and administration arrangements have been put in place. In the second cycle, there will be a single national approach for the development of river basin management plans within the State. The technical analysis and planning tasks will be advanced on the basis of appropriate water or catchment management units to be decided by EPA. Specific administrative arrangements will be put in place to coordinate requirements with Northern Ireland in relation to cross-border waters, encompassing water management units in the Neagh-Bann, the North Western and the Shannon River Basin Districts which flow into or out of Northern Ireland.

A new three-tier governance structure has been established. At Tier 1, the key national actors – led by the Minister – will deal with policy and resource matters. The EPA will lead on the underpinning science at Tier 2 and local authorities at Tier 3 will lead on implementation, enforcement and public engagement at local river level.

(CD/IT)