Funded by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, LAWPRO coordinates efforts to achieve good or high water quality in our rivers, lakes, transitional and coastal waters, and groundwater, as required by the European Union Water Framework Directive. Healthy rivers and catchments support a healthy environment, a robust economy, our health, and wellbeing.
LAWPRO is jointly managed by Tipperary and Kilkenny County Councils.
To protect and restore the natural waters of Ireland through co-ordinating and collaborating with local authorities, other public bodies and stakeholders, engaging and supporting communities and providing scientific evidence to inform the implementation of water quality measures.
A country where all rivers, lakes, wetlands, estuaries, ground, and coastal waters, are of the highest quality supported by a healthy ecosystem and managed through a programme of measures implemented by all.
“Water is not a commercial product like any other but, rather, a heritage which must be protected defended and treated as such.” That statement is the opening line of the Water Framework Directive. It is a guiding principle for LAWPRO and underpins the value of water.
The European Union Water Framework Directive (WFD) was signed into law in October 2000. It requires EU member States to achieve water quality of at least ‘good status’ in rivers, lakes, groundwater, estuaries and coastal waters, by 2027 at the latest. The WFD has been a pioneering piece of legislation because it mandates public participation, recognising the value of local knowledge and community involvement in decision making processes.
The WFD is implemented through River Basin Management Plans (RBMPs) in three six-year cycles. Each cycle providing an opportunity to assess water conditions at different stages and set out actions to achieve water quality objectives.
The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage is responsible for implementation of the WFD in Ireland. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage leads on the development and implementation of national river basin management plans. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) leads on the technical expertise and science. Local authorities are responsible for the development and implementation of RBMPs at a local level. LAWPRO is coordinating a nationwide response on behalf of the 31 local authorities.
Find out moreEuropean Union Member States implement the Water Framework Directive through River Basin Management Plans (RBMPs) in six-year cycles. This process allows for assessment, planning, implementation, and review at regular intervals. Ireland’s approach to water quality management has developed over the first and second RBMPs and will continue to evolve into the third cycle RBMP 2022 – 2027 to protect and improve water quality nationally and locally.
During the first and second cycles, LAWPRO learned a great deal about the issues affecting water quality. We now know the significant pressures and their effects at both national and local scales. The focus shifts to finding solutions to address the issues identified through local catchment assessments. Achieving the targets set out in the RBMPs will need a whole of society approach. There is a role for national and local government, private interests and stakeholders, local communities and individuals.
Good water quality is essential for public health and wellbeing. It supports growth in sectors like tourism, manufacturing, agri-foods, especially in rural areas. It is vital for biodiversity and a healthy natural environment. River Basin Management Plans are the roadmaps for achieving good water quality in our rivers, lakes, groundwater, estuaries, and coastal waters.
More informationThe improvement of water quality is the responsibility not only of Local Authorities, but also management of a wide range of implementing bodies, whose work can impact on water quality in various ways. An important part of the overall aim of LAWPRO and specifically the coordinators is to ensure that relevant public agencies are cooperating effectively in order to produce positive water quality outcomes, both locally and nationally.
The Communities Team work with local groups, education providers, Tidy Towns, Rural Development Companies, Rivers Trusts, etc, to spread awareness on the importance of water quality.
The Catchments Team meet with local community and farmer groups, liaise with Teagasc ASSAP advisors and a range of implementing bodies.
The combined teams facilitate regional operational committees (ROC) and management meetings and liaised with all public agencies in the natural waters’ arena. The ROC meets on average four times per year and the Management Committees 3 to 4 times per year.
Programme staff liaise with all 31 local authorities, participate in national working groups, supported the DHPLG and the EPA on all aspects of WFD implementation and lead national workshops on agriculture and water quality and on river partnerships and rivers trusts.
The 31 local authorities coordinate water quality management across a five-region structure: Border, Midlands and East; South East, South West and West. The structure allows for collaboration and knowledge sharing relating to the delivery of improvement measures at both regional and local levels. This ensures a consistent approach across the regions (and, for the Border committee, engagement also with Northern Ireland agencies). LAWPRO provides a secretariat to both the Regional Management Committees and Regional Operational Committees.
For more information on the River Basin Management Plan and Governance structures please click here –> More information
A local authority Chief Executive chairs each of the five Regional Management Committee (RMC). The committees are a vital link between decision making at higher levels in the RBMP Governance Structure and implementation of plans by local authorities. A regional operational committee supports each regional management committee.
Each of the five regions has a Regional Operational Committee (ROC), with membership including operational staff from the respective local authorities and 23 different public bodies. A Director of Services chairs these committees, which allow for effective knowledge transfer and tracking of progress on implementation of measures set out in the RBMP.
Documents for these committees are available in our documents section. Click here to access.
We have a growing, dedicated, and skilled team of Community Water Officers, Catchment Scientists and support staff working in offices across the country.
Find a staff member