Competent Authorities

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Competent Authorities Administrative
Arrangements

• for WFD Implementation in Ireland
• A Case Study

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• Transposition
• Background to Water Administration
• Description of Competent Authorities
• Outline of Administrative Structures
• Effectivenss of Administrative Structures
• Conclusions

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• 1. Transposition
• On Schedule, December 2003
• Competent Authorities Designated
• Irish Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
• Local government authorities acting jointly
• Specific roles described for each

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• 2. Background to Water Administration
• Ireland Introduction
• Population 4 million
• 70,280 km2
• 5000 lakes, 7000km coastline
• In 40 years, changed from low
• impact agriculture to
• increased population,
• Industrialisation
• intensive agriculture
• Dramatic economic growth in
• last 10 year
• 77,000 new houses in 2004

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• 2. Background to Water Administration
• Main threats to Irelands waters
• Eutrophication from
• Agricultural run-off
• State Waste Water Treatment Plants
• Private houses with unconnected sewage tanks
• Water Quality Report 2001 2003
• 40 river and stream locations polluted
• 18 of lakes eutrophic
• 22 estuaries eutrophic
• 20 groundwater sites gt guide level for nitrate
  conc. (25mg/l NO3).

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• 2. Background to Water Administration
• National Government
• Department of Environment, Heritage Local
  Government
• Formulates policy legislation on water quality,
  water supply wastewater services
• Overseeing WFD implementation
• Other Government Departments
• Agriculture, Finance, Marine

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• 2. Background to Water Administration
• EPA
• Regulates wastewater discharges from large scale
  industry through IPPC licencing
• Supervisory role over Local Authorities water
  protection activities
• Reporting, co-ordinating and technical role as
  WFD CA

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• 2. Background to Water Administration
• Local Authorities
• 26 Counties, 34 Authorities
• Statutory Responsibility for Water Protection
  under 1977 Water Protection Act
• CA under transposing legislation
• Elected Members will have responsibility for
  drawing up the environmental objectives, POM and
  RB Management Plans
• Funding 25 commercial rates, 33 waste,
  commercial water other charges, 40 from central
  government

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• 3. Competent Authorities (CAs)
• EPA
• Independent Environmental Protection Agency
• General Responsibilities as CA
• Reporting to Commission
• Mapping RBDs and water bodies
• Drawing up monitoring programme
• Promoting co-ordination of activities under WFD
  Articles 4, 5, 7, 10, 11 13

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• 3. Competent Authorities
• Local Government Authorities
• 34 County based local governments
• Responsibilities as CAs
• Establishing Environmental Objectives
• Establishing Programmes of Measures
• Drawing up and adopting the RB Management Plan
• Other tasks including economic analysis, Article
  5 obligations monitoring

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• 4. Administrative Structures
• 7 River Basin Districts
• 4 national, 3 International shared with Northern
  Ireland (United Kingdom)
• River Basin District Projects
• One Lead Authority
• RBD Project Management Group
• RBD Advisory Council
• National Coordination Group
• Technical Working Group
• Various other Working Groups

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• 4. Administrative Structures
• River Basin District Projects
• One in each RBD
• 40m funding overall
• Majority of work done by hired consultants under
  guidance of
• Project Co-ordinator from lead authority
• 4/6 year life span until 2008
• Guided by the RBD Management Group

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• 4. Administrative Structures
• RBD Management Group
• Officials from each local authority
• Consultants
• Representatives from State bodies listed in Water
  Policy Regulations
• Geological Survey
• Heritage Council
• Marine Institute
• Waterways Ireland etc.

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• 4. Administrative Structures
• RBD Advisory Councils
• Starting in Jan 2006
• 66 Local Authority nominees
• 33 sectoral Stakeholders
• Agriculture
• Professional
• Business/Industry
• Anglers/recreational users
• Water protection groups
• Community
• The Competent Authority shall have regard to the
  recommendations of the AC

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(No Transcript)
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• 4. Administrative Structures
• National Coordination Group
• Dept. of Environment officials
• RBD Project leaders
• EPA
• Other state agencies listed in the transposing
  legislation
• No public participation

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• 5. Effectiveness of Administrative Structures
• No RBD statutory Competent Authority but
• New RBD Project body, managing at catchment level
  for first time
• Efficiently coordinated network of local
  government CAs in each RBD
• Coordinated by lead authority
• Guided by RBD Project Management Group

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• 5. Effectiveness of Administrative Structures
• Transparency
• Serious lack of transparency
• No information about Administrative Structures on
  official websites
• Structure and role of National Coordination Group
  sensitive and requiring official clearance
• Are viewed by officials as internal and are
  uncomfortable releasing details to the public

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• 5. Effectiveness of Administrative Structures
• Problems Administrative Arrangements
• RBD Projects have a finite life span, ending in
  2008
• Much of the competencies held by hired outside
  consultants
• Lack of training-in or capacity building of
  Competent Local Authorities staff

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• 5. Effectiveness of Administrative Structures
• Problems Institutional Capacity of C.A.s
• Local Authorities very under resourced
• Lack of funding and trained staff
• Most expert competencies reside in outside
  consultants and RBD Project staff
• Limited professional environmental recruitment
  permitted for LAs
• EPA receiving no additional funding for WFD work
• Other water protection work neglected

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• 6. Conclusions
• No entirely new RBD Competent Authority
• Well coordinated new body RBD Project
• Catchment level management for 1st time
• Future for RBD projects after 2008 uncertain
• Power of Competent Authorities hinges on
  resources and political will
• Serious lack of resources in CAs