The consultation follows on from the introduction of new legislation requiring that local authorities in the Shannon International River Basin District (IRBD) devise a management plan for the whole of the Shannon river basin by 2009.
95% of County Clare's waters are included in the Shannon International River Basin District with the remaining 5% in the Western River Basin District, which will also be the subject of a public consultation in Ballyvaughan this November. There will be two public consultation periods before the final management plans are in place.
Mayor of Clare, Councillor Patricia McCarthy is encouraging members of the public to participate in the consultation workshops.
"Water is a fragile resource that needs to be protected. This is an ideal opportunity for people voice your views on how best to manage this important resource", she stated.
The first consultation period relates to the key management issues, which affect the water in the Shannon district. A new booklet called 'Water Matters' sets out these issues in a very easy-to-read manner and explains how they affect water quality, what controls are in place to deal with these issues and if they are adequate to meet the required standards. The second consultation period will take place be on the draft River Basin Management Plan after it is published in 2008.
Speaking at the launch of the Water Matters booklet the newly-elected Chair of the Shannon IRBD Advisory Council, Cllr. Albert Higgins said, "For too long it has been somebody else's responsibility but now our Governments here and throughout the European Union have handed us all a way to get involved and have a say into what the problems are and what actions should be taken to put things right."
The 'Water Matters' booklet is available to download for free from http://www.clarecoco.ie/
The Shannon River Basin District Advisory Council was established under S.I. No. 722 of 2003 (and as amended by SI 413 of 2005) to consider matters relating to the preparation of river basin management plans and other matters relevant to the protection and use of the aquatic environment and water resources in the river basin district and to advise and make recommendations on these matters to the relevant public authorities. Membership consists of two elected members from each of the constituent local authorities in the RBD, and a number of co-opted members from various sectoral interest groups.
The Shannon International River Basin District (IRBD) includes large areas of counties Limerick, Clare, Tipperary, Offaly, Westmeath, Longford and Roscommon as well as significant portions of counties Kerry, Galway, Leitrim and Cavan. Other counties that have smaller portions in the Shannon District include Sligo, Mayo, Cork, Laois, Meath and Fermanagh, while all of Limerick City is located within it.
The local authorities in the Shannon IRBD are: Cavan, Clare, Cork, Galway, Kerry, Laois, Leitrim, Limerick, Longford, Mayo, Meath, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, North Tipperary, South Tipperary, and Westmeath County Councils, and Limerick City Council.
-ENDS-
Notes to Editor:
Enda Thompson, Project Co-ordinator, Shannon IRBD, Newtown Centre, Annacotty, Co. Limerick is available for interview and further comment. Tel: 061 337914 or email: info@shannonrbd.com
For further information please contact Mark Dunphy of Dunphy Public Relations on 086-8534900 or media@dunphypr.com
Mark Dunphy
Dunphy Public Relations
Clonboula,
Connolly,
Ennis,
County Clare
IRELAND
www.dunphypr.com
media@dunphypr.com
00353-868534900 (Mobile)
00353-656839692 (Fax)
