Press Release: LAWPRO publishes Annual Report for 2023

Significant expansion of the programme highlights the importance of water quality in Ireland

Wednesday, 6th of November 2024: Director of Services at the Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO), Anthony Coleman has today launched the LAWPRO Annual Report for 2023. LAWPRO is a national shared service working on behalf of the 31 local authorities in Ireland coordinating efforts to achieve good water quality across the country.

Highlights of the 2023 Annual Report include:

  • LAWPRO received sanction for an additional 15 staff across the Water Framework Directive Team. LAWPRO has grown from 18 staff in 2016 to a resource of 60 plus staff at the end of 2023.
  • LAWPRO was successful in its bid to manage the Farming for Water European Innovation (EIP) Project – the largest EIP ever undertaken in the State for which it received sanction for 19 staff in July 2023. The total project budget is €60m.
  • LAWPRO identified a need for a greater focus on nature-based solutions and in 2023 introduced it as a new work programme.
  • LAWPRO had nearly 700 engagements through the activities of the Communities Team last year.
  • LAWPRO awarded grand aid of over €500,000 to local community groups in 2023 through the Community Water Development Fund to support projects for improving water quality in their local waterbodies.

Director of Services at LAWPRO, Anthony Coleman said: “2023 was a year that saw significant growth for our organisation through our work to coordinate efforts to improve water quality across the 31 local authority areas in Ireland. While LAWPRO helps to coordinate and facilitate collaboration between local authorities and other public bodies in the implementation of the River Basin Management Plan, we now also lead out on projects such as our new Farming for Water EIP initiative and nature-based solutions programme.

While significant work is taking place to improve the water quality of our natural and transitional waters, we are still facing a challenge to turn around the declines that have occurred over many years. We look ahead to the future and the new Water Action Plan for Ireland and we welcome the review of resources required by local authorities to undertake functions in the natural waters area.

I would also like to thank our staff for ensuring exceptional performance in our organisation through their passion, dedication and calling to the work they do to support water quality.”

To view LAWPRO’s 2023 Annual Report please see: https://lawaters.ie/app/uploads/2024/11/Annual-Report-2023.pdf

ENDS

For media information:

Sadhbh O’Neill

Communications & Engagement Lead

Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO)

E: soneill@lawaters.ie

T: 085 850 0409

About Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO) https://lawaters.ie/

Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO) works on behalf of Ireland’s 31 local authorities to protect and restore good water quality in our rivers, lakes, estuaries, ground and coastal water through catchment science and local community engagement. LAWPRO was established to fulfil requirements under the European Union Water Framework Directive and is funded by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. LAWPRO coordinates the efforts of local authorities and other public bodies in the implementation of the River Basin Management Plan.