Minister invites public to comment on river basin management plans

Members of the public were today invited to have their say on plans to protect and improve Northern Ireland waterways.

Environment Minister Sammy Wilson launched a six month consultation on draft River Basin Management Plans for Northern Ireland.

The Minister said: “River Basin Planning is about taking an integrated approach to the protection, improvement and sustainable use of the water environment, from source to sea.

“The plans aim to provide a clean and healthy water environment and to deliver considerable benefits for all the people of Northern Ireland.

“We all depend on our water environment, whether as the source of our drinking water, for recreational use, for agricultural or business purposes and to attract tourists.”

Six key questions are posed as part of the consultation:

Do you agree with the objectives and level of improvement set for Northern Ireland’s water environment? Have we identified the most significant pressures affecting the water environment? Have we identified all the important existing measures that are being used to address these issues? Please identify any important existing measures that we have missed. Can you identify new or existing measures or initiatives at a regional or local level that you, or your organisation, can help deliver? What suggestions do you have to improve the linkages this plan has with other relevant plans and programmes? Do you have any suggestions to further develop and enhance arrangements for all interested parties to work together on the implementation of the plan?

Mr Wilson acknowledged the contributions to the drafts by other Ministers and the authorities in the Irish Republic which shares some waterways.

He said: “I am pleased to be able to publish these drafts today and to acknowledge the support of my Executive colleagues throughout the development of the draft plans.

I must also acknowledge the close working relations between my officials and officials in the relevant authorities in the Republic of Ireland in relation to our shared waters.

“We will continue to work together to coordinate our efforts for the water environment in our International River Basin Districts.”

The consultation begins today, 22 December 2008 and will run for six months until 22 June 2009. Final plans will be published by 22 December 2009 and will cover a planning period of six years until 2015. Further plans will be issued for two subsequent six year planning cycles up until 2027.

Mr Wilson stressed the importance of everyone engaging in the consultation.

The Minister concluded: “It is in all our interests that we collectively take on the responsibility for the care of our water to ensure we get the water environment we deserve.

“I want to encourage everyone to log on to the Northern Ireland Environment Agency website and provide feedback on the draft plans.”

Notes To Editors:

1. The draft plans have been issued for public consultation in accordance with the requirements of the EU Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC).
2. The draft plans cover the North Eastern River Basin District (RBD) and two International River Basin Districts or IRBDs, the North Western IRBD and the Neagh Bann IRBD. Only a very small portion of the Shannon IRBD lies in Northern Ireland and therefore the authorities in the Republic of Ireland have been in the lead on drafting the plan for this district.
3. This consultation has been designed to be viewed online to give maximum benefit from the interactive tools. However, hard copies and copies of the document in alternative formats can be made available on request from the Northern Ireland Environment Agency by telephone 028 9262 3100, by text phone 028 9054 0642, by fax 028 9267 6054 or in writing from Jo Campbell, Northern Ireland Environment Agency, Department of Environment, 17 Antrim Road, Lisburn, BT28 3AL.
4. For media enquiries please contact DOE Press Office 028 9054 0014 or out of office hours, contact the EIS Duty Press Officer on pager 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.