Uisce Éireann’s Sectoral Action Work Plans
Ireland’s Water Action Plan 2024 requires Uisce Éireann to publish an Urban Wastewater Sectoral Action Work Plan and a Drinking Water Source Protection Sectoral Action Work Plan to summarise our approaches to meeting Water Framework Directive and Water Action Plan objectives to protect and restore waterbodies. These can be viewed by clicking on the tiles below.
Water Action Plan 2024: Ireland’s River Basin Management Plan 2022-2027
Ireland’s Water Action Plan 2024 sets out the actions that Ireland will take to protect, improve and restore water quality in all waterbodies (rivers, lakes, estuaries, coastal waters) up to 2027. The plan focuses on protecting and restoring water quality by preventing and reducing pollution, by restoring natural ecosystem functions and by continuing to invest in water infrastructure. Ireland is required to produce a river basin management plan under the European Union (EU) Water Framework Directive.
The plan can be viewed on the website of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
Supporting Plans
Ireland’s Water Action Plan 2024 requires the development of 46 Catchment Management Work Plans as well as a number of Sectoral Action Work Plans.
The Sectoral Action Work Plans are national scale plans, which provide for the tracking of the actions assigned to the sectors in the Water Action Plan 2024. The objective of the SAWPs is to ensure that the sector over time will no longer be a significant pressure on water status and will include information on how the sector will address all waterbodies at risk from that pressure, in line with WFD objectives.
The Catchment Management Work Plans support the Sectoral Action Work Plans. They are, as their name suggests, at catchment scale and focus on the actions taken in individual water bodies. The Sectoral Action Work Plans provide the list of actions proposed nationally while the Catchment Management Work Plans indicate where those actions are planned by all sectors in individual waterbodies. The Catchment Management Work Plans will also identify the co-benefits of water focused measures.
Together, the Catchment Management Work Plans and Sectoral Action Work Plans allow the tracking of progress of Water Action Plan implementation and enables assessment of the effectiveness of the measures to be undertaken. This process is overseen by Regional Operational Committees as well as a new Programme Delivery Office within the Water Division in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
The relationship between the national Water Action Plan, the Sectoral Action Work Plans and the Catchment Management Work Plans (WAP, 2024)
Uisce Éireann’s Objectives for Sectoral Action Work Plans
The overall objective of the Sectoral Action Work Plans is to address the negative effects on water quality from the sector, and to summarise the overall approach of the sector towards meeting Water Framework Directive and Water Action Plan objectives to protect and restore water bodies:
Uisce Éireann’s objectives with regards to our overall remit of the provision of water and wastewater services are outlined in our draft Water Services Strategic Plan 2050 (WSSP 2050). This plan sets out our strategic objectives and aims, as well as the actions for achieving them, in the context of the significant challenges the sector is likely to face over the next 25 years.
The draft WSSP 2050 explicitly calls out our obligation to play our part under the Water Framework Directive and the Water Action Plan 2024 (Strategic Aim 8). However, all of the strategic objectives and aims outlined in the draft WSSP 2050 contribute to a greater or lesser degree to meeting these obligations.
Strong partnerships and collaboration underpin all of our actions with the aim of delivering good value for money and multiple benefits for water, biodiversity and climate, enabling communities to thrive.
Uisce Éireann’s role and responsibilities under the Water Framework Directive and Water Action Plan
Uisce Éireann is a publicly owned, regulated, State body with responsibility for the provision of public water and wastewater services. As Ireland's national regulated water utility, every day we are responsible for the delivery of secure, safe, and sustainable water services for the people of Ireland. Our job is to deliver the highest quality drinking water to homes and businesses every day, and ensure that urban wastewater is properly treated and safely returned to the environment. Providing safe, secure and sustainable water services is vital for our society, supporting public health, supporting the delivery of housing and jobs and protecting our environment and precious water resources.
Uisce Éireann therefore plays a crucial role in ensuring that Ireland fulfils its commitments under the Water Framework Directive and the Water Action Plan 2024, safeguarding the nation's water quality and sustainability. By managing and improving the country’s water and wastewater infrastructure, we help to reduce pollution, enhance water ecosystems, and ensure the sustainable use of water resources. Our efforts to monitor and maintain high standards of water quality, alongside investment in treatment and conservation projects, are vital in achieving Water Framework Directive objectives and long-term environmental sustainability.
For more information on our purpose, vision and values, see our about page.
Uisce Éireann’s policy and regulatory framework
Uisce Éireann carries out its activities within a comprehensive legislative and regulatory framework, which dictates our responsibilities, sets standards for compliance, and ensures the delivery of water and wastewater services is in alignment with national and European requirements.
- The Water Framework Directive is the overarching Directive relating to water policy in the European Union (EU). It aims to protect and restore the water environment so that all water bodies are at ‘Good Ecological Status’ or better.
- The Drinking Water Directive is the EU’s main law on drinking water. It concerns access to, and the quality of, water intended for human consumption to protect human health.
- The Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive aims to protect human health and the environment through obligations for collection and treatment of urban wastewater.
- The requirements of the EU Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive and Appropriate Assessment under the Birds Directive and the Habitats Directive protect natural habitats and species and ensure biodiversity and environmental sustainability.
- The Water Services Acts 2007 to 2022 set out Uisce Éireann’s functions and powers in relation to the delivery of water services.
- The Water Services Policy Statement (WSPS) sets out the priorities of Government regarding the provision of water services.
- Uisce Éireann’s draft Water Services Strategic Plan 2050 (WSSP 2050) sets out our objectives and the means by which we aim to achieve them over the next 25 years. The final version of the WSSP 2050 has been approved by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. It will be published following adoption by the Uisce Éireann Board.
- Uisce Éireann’s Strategic Funding Plan sets out our multi-annual strategic funding requirements.
- Economic regulation of public water and wastewater services is the responsibility of the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU), Ireland’s independent energy and water regulator. The CRU set Uisce Éireann’s revenue allowance for each revenue control period, which is generally five years in duration.
- Environmental regulation of public water and wastewater services is the responsibility of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA grant Uisce Éireann’s wastewater discharge authorisations and will provide water abstraction authorisations once a regulatory framework is established.