I am taking this debate on behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Browne. I acknowledge the Bill brought forward by Deputy Nash. The principal purpose of the Bill, as outlined in the explanatory memorandum, is to establish a new body, within the current local and regional government framework with specific responsibilities for the River Boyne and its catchment area. However, after careful consideration, the Government has decided it will oppose this Bill. Regarding the public interest, the Bill, if enacted, would be counterproductive to the work already being undertaken or planned for the River Boyne and its catchment. It would divert existing resources and personnel from addressing other water quality and local government issues in the Boyne catchment and would add an additional layer of administration and bureaucracy for the bodies and agencies that currently operate in the catchment. While I welcome and acknowledge the commitment and ambition to protect the River Boyne, the Government has already ensured mechanisms are in place that will accomplish much of what is proposed under the proposed Bill. Since this Bill was put on the Order Paper, a new and revised river basin management plan, the Water Action Plan 2024, has been launched and is currently being implemented through a range of public authorities overseen by the programme delivery office in the Department. The water action plan is the principal means through which we are addressing our water quality. Building on the work of previous cycles, and by incorporating the integrated catchment management approach, the plan sets out the necessary environmental objectives and lays out the roadmap through which we will work to restore and protect our water bodies at a national level up to 2027. The water action plan has an increased level of ambition, offers multiple benefits for nature and biodiversity and offers role clarity and collaborative implementation for the many implementing bodies at national, regional and catchment level that play a vital role in its delivery. Targeting the right measure in the right place is the main approach adopted under the plan, and the results of the recent EPA water quality report show that this approach is working in targeted areas and in particular in the priority areas for action that have been selected under the plan for targeted measures. Several priority areas for action are being administered by the local authority waters programme, LAWPRO, and the relevant local authorities with the aim of restoring water quality in the Boyne catchment. The work being undertaken by LAWPRO in the Boyne catchment alone is focused on 33 water bodies across five priority areas for action. It involves LAWPRO carrying out local catchment assessments to identify pressures on water quality and working with implementing bodies to resolve these issues. Catchment management work plans are a new initiative under the water action plan that have being developed and implemented in conjunction with LAWPRO, and are being developed for each of the 46 catchments. The purpose of the catchment management work plans will be to set out the actions identified by implementing bodies required for water bodies and to share information on catchment characteristics, current water quality issues and pressures, thereby aiding water quality at a catchment level. In addition to the national river basin management plan, local authorities are required to prepare their own local authority water action plans. LAWPRO is working with the EPA and the programme delivery office in the Department to produce a template for all local authorities from which they will develop a dedicated local plan for water quality. The template is due to be launched in 2026, will include specific actions assigned to each local authority for the protection and restoration of water quality and will specify reporting requirements and data flows from which to accurately report on the progress with their implementation. The Department recently launched the sixth nitrates programme, with the accompanying good agricultural regulations having come into effect on 1 January this year. In recent years, the Department established the national agricultural inspection programme, which funds an additional 57 local authority inspectors with an aim of carrying out inspections of 4,500 farms per annum. These inspections are targeted where, using EPA information, there is a risk of impact on water quality. Up to three inspectors have been employed in Meath. Kildare has two sanctioned inspectors in addition to extra staff working on the programme, while Louth has one inspector and Offaly has two inspectors. In March 2024, the farming for water European innovation partnership, EIP, project was launched. This initiative is co-funded by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and is managed by LAWPRO in collaboration with other agencies. It is investing funding of €60 million over five years. The project aims to support farmers to improve water quality by promoting the adoption of innovative best practice in nutrient management and the application of nature-based solutions to reduce losses of phosphorous, nitrogen, sediment and pesticides from agricultural lands to water bodies. In terms of the physical health of natural water bodies, a new national hydromorphology programme has been established with the long-term vision of mitigating the negative impact of past construction on rivers to restore their flow, form and function. Inland Fisheries Ireland, with co-funding from the Department, has launched the national barrier mitigation programme, which will work to restore the natural flow of waterways through the removal of legacy barriers and weirs. The Bill proposes carrying out works under the functions of the task force that may involve the dredging, straightening, deepening or widening of waterways to improve navigation of the Boyne catchment. Such activities could impact the natural flow of the Boyne catchment’s waterways and have unintended consequences that could negatively impact the hydromorphological flow and impede the work that is being undertaken by the national barrier mitigation programme. In all, under the Department’s water quality capital programme, €41.5 million has been committed in 2026 to projects such as the farming for water EIP project, the national barrier mitigation programme and numerous other beneficial projects. Another aspect that must be examined is the proposal in the Bill to remove the functions assigned under the 2014 European Union (Water Policy) Regulations to both the water advisory committee and local authorities. The role of the water policy advisory committee within the Boyne catchment is an important element as it works at the highest level in the governance structures working to improve our water quality. The functions of the committee include advising on policy in relation to the preparation of river basin management plans, the preparation of a programme of measures to achieve environmental objectives and promoting appropriate activities necessary to support achieving the objectives of the water framework directive. The water policy advisory committee is also supported by other important bodies such as the national co-ordination and management committee, which is chaired by the Department and includes the local authority chairs of the regional management committees, LAWPRO and the EPA, and works as the programme management committee for the water action plan. The regional management committees and regional operational committees were established as forums where local authorities, agencies and other implementing bodies under the water action plan could highlight and overcome operational challenges at a regional and local level, and if required, raise issues and barriers to water framework directive implementation with the high-level governance structures for resolution. These governance structures work towards addressing the impacts on our water quality at a national, local and cross-sectoral level and have brought a new strategic and leadership focus on addressing the blockages towards effective implementation and resolution of the issues. The proposed Bill also specifies the functions assigned by or under the European Communities (Water Policy) Regulations 2003 to local authorities shall, in relation to the Boyne catchment, be performed on behalf of the relevant local authorities by the task force. The regulations also place increased obligations on local authorities by assigning responsibility to them for regional co-ordination through LAWPRO as the local authority shared service, public participation and support to the Minister and the EPA in the development and implementation of water quality measures. Funded by the Department, LAWPRO co-ordinates efforts among local authorities to achieve good or high water quality in our water bodies. The ongoing work of LAWPRO will be key in the current third cycle, and in particular the catchment work it is prioritising in 343 of the priority areas for action that are outlined in the water action plan. I believe the proposed Bill would be unintentionally counterproductive to the significant work being carried out at a national, regional and local level, led by local authorities. From a local government perspective, the Bill proposes a number of provisions that appear to overlap with provisions in existing legislation. Regional assemblies already have a range of co-ordinating functions under legislation, including in relation to research and gathering information. Regional assemblies may also appoint their own committees. Furthermore, it is not clear what interaction is envisaged between the existing statutory strategic planning committees of the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly and the proposed task force, which would have functions in relation to planning. Section 51 of the Local Government Act 2001 empowers local authorities to establish, by resolution of the elected members, one or more committees "to consider matters connected with the functions of the authority". Section 52 of the Act provides that if two or more local authorities wish to establish a joint committee or committees, they may do so. The proposals in the Bill would therefore appear to remove discretion and choice in the establishment of a particular committee from the regional assembly and possibly from the relevant local authorities as well. The Bill proposes to remove functions from local authorities and to transfer them to the task force. It is not clear why the proposed task force is considered to be better placed to perform these functions than the local authorities already performing them. It is also not clear how the task force’s decisions would be implemented, nor what associated resourcing would be needed to support the body or whether this would be more cost-effective than existing arrangements. On behalf of the Minister, Deputy Browne, I reiterate that significant progress is being made and the funding, projects and initiatives I have outlined show this Government is committed to addressing problems with water quality at catchment level. These will benefit not only the Boyne catchment and surrounding areas but all of our nation’s rivers, lakes and waterways. Water quality measures are being implemented in the Boyne catchment, and the Bill would add an additional layer of supervision for these measures with limited, if any, practical benefit. The loss of the contribution of established governance structures such as the water policy advisory committee and LAWPRO to the work being undertaken in the Boyne catchment cannot be underestimated and may have the unintended consequence of isolating the catchment from water quality developments being made at the national level. The water action plan governance structures are in place to deal with the water functions outlined in the Bill, and the co-ordination and engagement is already ongoing with the development of both the Boyne catchment community fora and catchment management work plan, which will form the foundation for water quality action and improvements going forward. As stated, after careful consideration, the Government has decided it will oppose this Bill as it would be counterproductive to the significant work already being undertaken in the River Boyne, given that many of the proposed elements of the Bill are already in place. The Bill would add an additional layer of administration for local authorities and the agencies and bodies that operate in the Boyne catchment. The Minister, Deputy Browne, would like to encourage those who have contributed to the proposed Bill to continue to engage fully with the structures and processes already put in place to manage and protect catchments such as the Boyne. As mentioned, I am taking this debate on his behalf and I look forward to hearing the contributions to the debate.

Sentiment score: 0.25

I am giving you a lot more to work with.

Sentiment score: 0.34

I am dealing with this on behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Browne. I thank Deputy Nash for introducing this Labour Party Bill. I also thank him and Deputy O'Rourke for their contributions to the debate this evening. While the Minister welcomes the genuine intentions of the Bill in attempting to address issues in the Boyne catchment, this Government is already implementing a comprehensive set of measures, policies and administrative structures that are contributing to addressing such issues, not just within the Boyne catchment but at a national level. Water is one of the most important natural resources. In so many ways it is central to our economy and way of life. It is essential for our tillage and livestock which ensures stable and high-quality food production. It also sustains our biodiversity and nature through unpolluted and healthy ecosystems, while clean and hygienic drinking water supplies ensure the health of our citizens. Managed effectively, water plays a key role in strengthening the resilience of our social, economic and environmental systems. The lesson that can be taken away from the most recent EPA report is that while we still need to do more to address problems of water quality, Ireland is ahead of many other European member states with regard to water quality. This Government is taking action to address the impacts on our water quality. The EPA water quality report highlighted several areas for improvement, including the necessity of improved data sharing and integration between the implementing bodies, water quality programmes and State agencies. The Bill as proposed would do the opposite by including an additional layer of administration and would isolate the catchment from the effective structures that are already in place. I spoke briefly earlier about some of the work that is being undertaken to help to address negative impacts on water in the Boyne catchment. By virtue of measures and initiatives currently in place through the 2024 water action plan, we are already undertaking many of the proposals outlined in the Bill to tackle the impacts on water quality. A dedicated programme delivery office was established in early 2025 with responsibility for co-ordinating the work of relevant national and local structures to drive the delivery of the plan and for reporting on progress with the implementation of the measures that will address the pressures on water quality. In addition, the programme delivery office is overseeing the development of catchment management plans through the local authorities water programme, LAWPRO. These work plans will outline the issues to be addressed and the roles and responsibilities of implementing bodies such as local authorities. The Boyne catchment has been selected as one of the pilot projects in which the new work plans are being developed and tested. Community stakeholders will also play a pivotal role in helping to address our water quality, particularly through the catchment community forums that are being introduced under the water action plan. These community forums are currently running as pilot projects in five catchments throughout the country, including the Boyne catchment. The Boyne catchment community forums will undertake many important tasks, including contributing to the development of the catchment management work plan for the catchment. The catchment community forums will ensure that local communities have a say regarding water quality in their catchments. I strongly encourage local community stakeholders to fully participate in this opportunity to help shape the future of their water environment. In addition, the Government is providing the necessary funding to upgrade our water infrastructure. Under the updated national development plan, Uisce Éireann will invest €11.7 billion up to 2030 to support the delivery of key strategic projects to deliver the additional water services capacity required for the new housing targets while prioritising public health and safeguarding the environment. The Government has already commenced future planning for the water quality sector that will be implemented into the next decade. Officials from my Department have begun the process of developing Ireland's fourth water basin management plan - the water action plan 2028 to 2033. With the indulgence of An Cathaoirleach Gníomhach, if he allows me to continue, I will take an extra minute or two.

Sentiment score: 0.27

The third water action plan has given us a solid blueprint for how we can build and evolve our ambition for the next cycle. The next water action plan will build upon the water I have outlined here today. We will again look to deliver on integrated multiple policy objectives for water, biodiversity and climate wherever possible. This integrated approach will deliver gains for our water quality and ensure that we can deliver the right measures in the right places. Public consultation on significant water management issues for the fourth water framework directive cycle was launched in December last. This public consultation is intended to help identify the issues that the fourth water action plan will seek to address and is an important opportunity for the public to express their views on what our priorities should be. As I highlighted, the Bill would impact the functions of local authorities and appears to overlap with provisions already in place through existing legislation without any clarity on how these proposals would bring added benefit to the Boyne catchment. I assure the public that the Government is working to address the issues highlighted here today and is fully committed to protecting water quality nationwide. I note the points that both Deputies have raised and they are issues the Department and Government will take on board, but we are opposing the Bill on the basis that we believe it could be counterproductive to what is an overall national policy, which will impact on the Boyne as well. We have made very good progress in the water sector in the last number of years. Additional funding has been provided to Uisce Éireann, governance has been strengthened, programmes have been put in place and measures have been implemented that will be targeted locally to deliver positive environment outcomes. After detailed and careful consideration, the Government has decided to oppose this Bill, as it would be counterproductive to the work that has already been undertaken in the River Boyne, as many of the proposals in the Bill are already in place. However, we take on board the points that have been raised by the Deputies. The Minister, Deputy Browne, encourages those who have contributed to the Bill to continue to engage fully with the structures and processes already put in place to manage and protect catchments, such as the Boyne.

Sentiment score: 0.39