Water Action Plan 2024 - A River Basin Management Plan for Ireland

Sep 12, 2026

Water Action Plan 2024 sets out Ireland’s roadmap for restoring water bodies to at least ‘good status’ and preventing further deterioration. It addresses declining water quality despite prior efforts, focusing on preventing and reducing pollution, restoring river ecosystem functions, and continued investment in water infrastructure. The plan emphasizes integrated governance across stakeholders and clear accountability through monitoring and public reporting, with actions planned through 2027.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryPresentations

FormatPDF

Pages128

Reading Time45 min

AccessFree to download

Foreword

Table of Contents

CHAPTER 1- THE IMPORTANCE OF PROTECTING OUR NATURAL WATERS

CHAPTER 2- STATUS OF IRELAND’S WATER BODIES

CHAPTER 3- SETTING ENVIRONMENTAL OBJECTIVES

CHAPTER 4- MEASURES REQUIRED

CHAPTER 5- PROGRAMME OF MEASURES TO 2027

CHAPTER 6- IMPLEMENTATION AND GOVERNANCE

CHAPTER 7- PUBLIC AND STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT

CHAPTER 8- ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF WATER USE

CHAPTER 9- LIST OF ACTIONS

WaterAction Plan 2024 A River Basin Management Plan for Ireland Prepared by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage [www.gov.ie/RBMP](www.gov.ie/RBMP) “Water is not a commercial product like any other but, rather, a heritage which must be protected, defended and treated as such” EU Water Framework Directive Foreword It is now more apparent than ever that global progress on water-related goals and targets remains alarmingly off track. The considerable challenges to ensuring the sustainable use and management of water resources requires a new determination at a global, national and local scale. Even in Ireland, where our water quality is comparatively good and water is relatively abundant, our natural water systems are at substantial risk from such issues as increasing nutrient pollution, physical modifications, and urban pollution, all while our water systems are becoming more vulnerable due to changing weather patterns. This Water Action Plan sets out a roadmap to restore Ireland’s water bodies to the equivalent of ‘good status’ or better and to protect water from any further deterioration. Ireland’s water quality has declined in spite of actions taken to date. This decline in water quality is putting Ireland’s ‘clean and green’ image at risk – as well as the livelihoods of farmers and those working in industries such as food and tourism that depend directly on this green image of Ireland. This plan focuses on protecting and restoring water quality by preventing and reducing pollution, by restoring the natural ecosystem functions of rivers and by continuing to invest in water infrastructure. New governance structures have improved how we manage water in an integrated way at local and at national level by bringing together all of the key water stakeholders – people living in catchments, environmental NGOs, farmers, implementing bodies, state agencies and departments, and industry. However, even where progress is being made, we must do more to meet the challenge of protecting and improving our water quality. A collaborative effort is the best way to achieve this outcome as the causes and the answers to protecting and restoring our water catchments are not within the grasp of any one group. Everyone needs healthy and well-protected water catchments – for nature, for growing crops, for our industries, for bathing areas, for clean drinking water supply and for effective sanitation. In the Water Action Plan 2024 the focus will be on implementing actions to protect and improve water bodies. We will achieve this by ensuring that the necessary resources are available but also by having clear accountability that will require each implementing body to deliver on the water action targets in the programme of measures. Each agency and authority will be required to monitor and report publicly on its progress. This plan will help mobilisea joint effort of the State, local authorities, public sector agencies, public and private sector companies, environmental organisations, farm organisations and the people living in each river catchment. Darragh O’Brien, T.D. Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Malcolm Noonan, T.D. Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Electoral Reform Table of Contents CHAPTER 1-THE IMPORTANCE OF PROTECTING OUR NATURAL WATERS ........................... 5 CHAPTER 2-STATUS OF IRELAND’S WATER BODIES............................................... 12 CHAPTER 3-SETTING ENVIRONMENTAL OBJECTIVES............................................. 28 CHAPTER 4-MEASURES REQUIRED.............................................................. 44 CHAPTER 5-PROGRAMME OF MEASURES TO 2027 ............................................... 51 CHAPTER 6-IMPLEMENTATION AND GOVERNANCE .............................................. 74 CHAPTER 7-PUBLIC AND STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT.......................................... 88 CHAPTER 8-ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF WATER USE ..

FAQs

What is the main purpose of Water Action Plan 2024?

It provides a roadmap to restore Ireland’s water bodies to at least ‘good status’ and protect them from further deterioration. The plan also accelerates identifying and implementing the right measures in the right places.

Why is the plan needed despite previous actions?

Ireland’s water quality has continued to decline since improvements up to 2012. Ongoing nutrient, physical modification, and urban pollution risks have increased vulnerability under changing weather patterns.

How does the plan ensure accountability for implementing actions?

It assigns clear accountability to implementing bodies to deliver water action targets. Each agency and authority must monitor and report progress publicly.

Sep 12, 2026

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