Meetings on Kildare water quality

AFTER a series of complaints about water quality throughout the county over recent months, Kildare County Council have done something about it, and invited the Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO) to host two public meetings in the coming weeks.

The LAWPRO works on  of Ireland’s 31 local authorities to protect and restore good water quality in rivers, lakes, estuaries, ground and coastal water, and will hold two community information meetings about water quality and water related issues in Ballymore Eustace this Thursday (15 May), and in Athy on Tuesday, 20 May.

Both meetings will begin at 7pm and will be held in – respectively – the Bandhall in Ballymore, and the Clanard Hotel in Athy.

Under the River Basin Management Plan for Ireland LAWPRO carries out work in areas identified as having poor water quality called Priority Areas for Action (PAA) to support targeted water quality improvements with other stakeholders.

“The community information meetings are being held to make more people aware of work to improve water quality in the areas and to encourage as much engagement as possible with all stakeholders right across the communities, including key agencies, special interest groups, voluntary, public and private sectors,” said a council spokesperson.

Interested parties can register to attend either meeting on the Eventbrite website.

Over the past number of years, LAWPRO has been working in these areas as part of the second cycle of the River Basin Management Plan for Ireland.

At the meetings, LAWPRO experts will take you through the work that has been carried out in the 2nd cycle and what is being planned for the 3rd cycle Water Action Plan.

There will also be opportunities for the public to ask questions and talk to members of the Agricultural Sustainability Support and Advisory Programme (ASSAP) and the LAWPRO Farming for Water European Innovation Partnership (EIP) project team.

“As we are coming to the end of 2nd cycle work in the Naas Municipal District and the Athy Municipal District areas and begin implementation of the new Water Action Plan we would like to take this opportunity to welcome members of the public to come along and find out more about what’s happening in their local waterbodies and river catchments,” said Anthony Coleman, director of services with LAWPRO.

“We hope to engage as many people as possible at these two meetings in Kildare because public participation and support is key to achieving water quality improvements.

“We would also like to thank all those, whether in a voluntary or paid capacity, working in their local areas to help make a difference to their natural waters and the biodiversity that live in and around them.” 

Both public meetings will begin at 7pm and refreshments will be available.