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The Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, Mr. Simon Coveney, T.D., addressed the National Water Forum today at its inaugural meeting. Comprised of representatives of different sectors and organisations with an interest in water issues, the forum is tasked with increasing public and stakeholder engagement on water issues and to advise the Minister on such matters.

The establishment of the forum was one of the commitments made under the draft River Basin Management Plan 2018-2021, published on 28 February 2017. The forum plans to initially consider the priorities and goals of the draft River Basin Management Plan, monitor and report on its ongoing implementation, and draw attention to any significant water-related issues not yet contained in the plan. The new forum will work alongside the already existing Public Water Forum whose remit relates to the work of Irish Water and the Commission for Energy Regulation (Irish Water’s economic regulator).

In welcoming the members to the Forum, Minister Coveney said: “The Government believes that extensive public engagement is vital to improving how we manage this valuable resource and to raising public awareness of water as an environmental, social and economic resource. The Forum will be independent, have discretion to determine its own work programme and its own means of communicating its views and analysis.

“The forum provides an opportunity for stakeholders to debate and analyse a range of issues about water as a resource, water quality, rural water issues, challenges facing issues Irish Water customers and implementation of the Water Framework Directive.”

The Forum will consist of representatives of organisations and sectors with an interest in water issues, including consumer groups; Irish Water customers; environmental NGOs; community groups; river trusts; groups that participate in aquatic activities such as fishing and water sports; sectors with a particular interest in water issues such as the agricultural and business sectors; the community and voluntary sector; and organisations representing rural Ireland and group water schemes.

Minister Coveney has appointed Dr Tom Collins as chair of the National Water Forum. Dr Collins is currently chair of the Public Water Forum and will continue to work with both Fora.
Dr Collins stated that “the National Water Forum will provide stakeholders with an opportunity to discuss, in detail, their concerns and considerations in relation to our most valuable resource and to have a real and effective input into decisions regarding the management of water. Such decisions are pivotal not only to society today but to the wider ecosystem and to posterity.

“The National Water Forum will facilitate the strengthening of the democratic input into our decision-making regarding this fundamental and strategic asset. It will enable the sharing of information and understandings, and ensure that decisions made at national level reflect the concerns and considerations of stakeholders at local level.

“The forum will meet on a regular basis and will also form sub-groups to focus on specific issues. The forum is required to inform public views on the links between clean water supplies, good water quality and public health, and the value of water as a resource. Monitoring public understanding and awareness of water issues is something the forum will also consider as part of its work programme.”

Minister Coveney added: “Through ongoing debate and analysis, the Government expects the National Water Forum to enhance public understanding of water as a scarce, costly resource to abstract, treat and supply, one that should be conserved, protected and used sustainably. The findings and outputs of the National Water Forum will be taken into account by both the Water Policy Advisory Group and the National Co-ordination and Management Committee in informing both national policy and implementation of the second cycle River Basin Management Plan.”
The Forum will be headquartered in the Civic Offices, Nenagh with Ms Sharon Kennedy as Senior Executive Officer and Ms. Carol McCarthy as Senior Engineer.


Notes to Editors:
Biographical Note:
Dr Tom Collins is currently Chair of the Governing Body of DIT and also of IT Blanchardstown.
As well as occupying many senior positions in Irish higher education, he has been actively involved throughout his career in a number of environmental/water related roles.
For ten years between 1997 and 2007 he was Chair of the National Rural Water Monitoring Committee. This committee oversaw the refurbishment of the entire infrastructure of the group water schemes. It involved a major investment programme, which contributed to the closure of a European Court of Justice case against Ireland over drinking water quality, particularly with regard to rural water quality.
The committee also embarked on a number of innovative projects in water conservation and source protection. These included projects in the conservation of rainwater, in waste water treatment and in the establishment of the Centre for Freshwater Studies in Dundalk Institute of Technology.
Dr Collins was also a member of the three person working group on the Wild Irish Salmon established by the Irish government in 2006. This resulted in the banning of drift net fishing for salmon in Irish coastal waters and a number of other initiatives aimed at conserving salmon in Irish rivers.
Dr Collins is currently Chair of the Public Water Forum and has presented to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services.