Green TD Steven Matthews has welcomed the launch of the Water Action Plan by his colleague Minister for Nature Malcom Noonan. The plan will benefit rivers in Wicklow with the three core aims being to reduce and prevent pollution, to let more rivers run free and restore their natural ecosystem functions, and continue investment in water infrastructure.
Deputy Matthews has a special interest in water, having studied environmental management and undertaken water sampling around Co. Wicklow for many years.
Deputy Matthews said, “At the heart of this plan is community involvement. The measures in the plan to restore waterbodies will be implemented at a local level through Catchment Management Work Plans that will be co-created with local communities through a public participation process that will empower everyone to understand the challenges in their local area in Co. Wicklow and work to protect our rivers, lakes and coasts.
“While this work will be done at local level, the plan is a national policy, drawn to implement the EU Water Framework Directive, and the strongest yet. This tells us that all waterbodies in Ireland need to be of ‘good’ or ‘excellent’ status, these include surface waters like rivers, lakes, estuaries, canals and coastal waters, as well as groundwaters. Unfortunately, after many years of improving water quality, it is now on the decline. This Water Action Plan is therefore tough on governance, enforcement and accountability. It also sets out to protect against further deterioration in water quality. Given what we know about population growth, economic growth and widespread, rapid and intensifying climate change, it’s crucial that we take action now.
“We are lucky enough to live in a stunning county like Wicklow and our lakes, rivers and coast are a huge part of its appeal. It is up to all of us to do at we can to protect the water quality, for the environment, for our health and also for amenity and tourism benefits.”