The Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO ), working on behalf of Ireland’s 31 local authorities to protect and restore good water quality, is holding two community information meetings on water quality and water-related issues in Furbo (Na Forbacha ) and Letterfrack.
Under the Water Action Plan 2024 – A River Basin Management Plan for Ireland, LAWPRO carries out work in areas identified as having poor water quality, called Priority Areas for Action (PAAs ), to support targeted water quality improvements by state bodies and local authorities. The two community information meetings are being held to increase awareness about water quality work in the area and to encourage as much engagement as possible with all stakeholders right across the community including key agencies, special interest groups, voluntary, public and private sectors.
The meetings are as follows:
Connemara South, April 24 at 7:30pm. Location: Connemara Coast Hotel, Na Forbacha, Co. Galway, H91 KX27.
Connemara North, April 29 at 7:30pm. Location: Ellis Hall, Connemara West plc, Connemara West Centre, Letterfrack, Co. Galway, H91 AH5K.
Since 2018 LAWPRO has been working in Connemara North as part of delivery under the River Basin Management Plan for Ireland 2018 to 2021 (second cycle ) and on the night LAWPRO catchment scientists will take you through the work that has been carried out and what is being planned under the third cycle Water Action Plan 2024, including expanding into Connemara South. 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 Farming for Water European Innovation Partnership (EIP ) project.
Ahead of the community information meeting, Dr Bernie White, Regional Coordinator with LAWPRO said: “As we are coming to the end of second cycle work in Connemara and expanding our plans for further work in the area under the 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 is happening in their local waterbodies.
"We hope to engage as many people as possible at the two meetings, as public participation is key to helping make water quality improvements. We would also like to thank all those, whether in a voluntary or paid capacity, who work in their local areas and help to make a difference to their natural waters and the biodiversity that lives in and around them.”
All are welcome to come to either meeting, and there will be refreshments available.
To find out more about the work of the Local Authority Waters Programme, visit: www.lawaters.ie
