River Basin Management Planning in the Republic of Ireland: Past, Present and the Future

Abstract

The River Basin Management Plan (RBMP) is an essential component of the European Union Water Framework Directive that details an integrated approach required to protect, improve and sustainably manage water resources. RBMP were intended to be produced for the periods 2009–2015, 2016–2021 and 2022–2027. However, after two years of delays in the development processes, the Republic of Ireland produced its first RBMP in 2010. The second RBMP cycle was also implemented in 2018 and is expected to run until the end of 2021 to give way to the third RBMP, whose consultation processes have been ongoing since December 2019. This paper contributes to the forthcoming RBMP by assessing stakeholders’ perspectives on the second RBMP through a desk-based review and by conducting interviews with nine institutions (14 interviewees). The qualitatively analysed interviews reveal a broad spectrum of actors associated with water management and governance in the Republic of Ireland through a three-tier governance structure that has been delivered (with amendment) through the first two RBMPs. Organisations such as the An Fóram Uisce|The Water Forum, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Local Authority Waters, and the Agricultural Sustainability Support and Advisory Programme have responsibilities designated in the RBMPs to deliver improved water quality, integrated catchment management, community engagement and awareness-raising. Trust has also been building up among these organisations and other agencies in the water sector. Despite these responsibilities and progress made, the interviews identified communication lapses, ineffective collaboration and coordination among stakeholders and late implementation to be hampering the successful delivery of the second RBMP, in addition to significant pressures acting on water bodies from agricultural activities and urban wastewater treatment. Towards the third RBMP, the paper concludes that optimised water sector finance, enhanced and well-resourced communications, and improved stakeholder collaboration are needed to foster effective and efficient water services delivery and quality. More so, given the cross-cutting impact of the Sustainable Development Goals on water resources and the interconnected relations among the goals, the paper further recommends the integration of the SDGs in the various plans of actions and a co-benefits approach to derive the triple benefits from biodiversity, climate change initiatives and water quality measures.

Slowing Down Quick Runoff—A New Approach for the Delineation and Assessment of Critical Points, Contributing Areas, and Proposals of Measures to Reduce Non-Point Water Pollution from Agricultural Land

“…The readily available methods for the prioritization of hydrological units with a considerable need for the adoption of structural water retention measures as well as advanced techniques for NSWRM designs and placements [40][41][42][43][44][45] and this study support their inclusion in watershed management plans. However, to successfully introduce these steps and to employ a complex approach require a comprehensive, whole-basin survey, including SWOT and cost-benefits analyses, as well as the appropriate engagement of different stakeholders, ranging from regional policy makers and municipalities to farmers and landowners [94][95][96].…”

Water Sensitive Cities: An Integrated Approach to Enhance Urban Flood Resilience in Parma (Northern Italy)

“…Even though citizens remain generally unaware of the economic and environmental impacts of urban floods, their contribution is essential to identify new adaptation strategies [20]. Antwi et al (2021) [21] examined stakeholders' perspectives of the second River Basin Management Plan for the management and governance of water resources in the Republic of Ireland. They concluded that stakeholder collaboration and awareness is necessary to achieve effective and efficient water policy measures, water quality systems, and water services network [21].…”

“…Antwi et al (2021) [21] examined stakeholders' perspectives of the second River Basin Management Plan for the management and governance of water resources in the Republic of Ireland. They concluded that stakeholder collaboration and awareness is necessary to achieve effective and efficient water policy measures, water quality systems, and water services network [21].…”

Analysis and Model of River Basin Sustainable Management by SWOT and AHP Methods

“…An innovation in sustainable river basin planning strategies and management faced uncertainties and conflicting interests among experts, while critical zones for implementing policies were identified and prioritized with improving reliability on the model results and optimistic, pessimistic and nominal viewpoints were obtained [22]. A qualitative analysis in the Republic of Ireland revealed several bodies associated with water management including local and international environmental organizations and local authorities [23].…”

“…The key policies from another study include regulation of heavy metals disposal, promoting hydropower, transformation towards organic farming, involvement of stakeholders and control of dams and barrages in a river basin in India [22]. A pressure on water resources is also made by agriculture, forestry, peat extraction, eutrophication and hydro-morphology in the Republic of Ireland [23].…”