Water Action Plan

Ireland is implementing its third River Basin Management Plan (2022–2027), known as the Water Action Plan. The aim is straightforward yet essential: to protect and restore our rivers, lakes, and other natural waters so that they are clean, healthy and thriving. It is widely acknowledged that this work is an ongoing effort that will continue beyond 2027. This work is part of Ireland’s commitment under the European Union’s Water Framework Directive, ensuring our waters reach a good or high ecological status.

Local authorities are central to delivering the water quality outcomes outlined in the Water Action Plan, covering a wide range of important tasks, including:

• Protecting the environment through enforcement and monitoring

• Co‑ordinating and overseeing actions to keep projects on track

• Assessing catchments to understand the health of our rivers and lakes

• Managing funding programmes that support local initiatives

• Helping communities care for their waterways and encouraging local involvement

Together, these efforts ensure that our rivers, lakes, and streams are protected for everyone to enjoy.

Local Authority Action Tracker

The Local Authority Action Tracker is a county level work tracker that sets out what each local authority is doing to protect and improve water quality in Ireland. These work trackers include the practical actions, outlined in the national Water Action Plan, to help restore rivers, lakes, and streams so that communities can enjoy cleaner, healthier waterways. The work tracker includes an overview of the governance structures and the statutory functions of local authorities. It also provides contextual information on water quality across the county, examining the key risks, pressures, and impacts.

Local authorities are the leading organisations for many actions including local catchment assessments and restoration, agricultural inspections and septic tanks inspections. Local authorities also carry out a supporting role for other stakeholders for actions such as nature-based solutions, urban runoff and invasive alien species. Progress on these actions are tracked and reviewed annually, and the results are made publicly available, please see below.