Executive Summary

In response to the decline in water quality and wetland ecosystems throughout Europe, the European Parliament and Council passed into law EC Directive 2000/60/EC establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy, commonly known as the Water Framework Directive (WFD).

The WFD will supersede and amalgamate a number of existing, and more narrowly focused, directives enacted in response to pressures on aquatic environments that have been recognised widely since the 1970s. 

In order to help WFD implementation in Ireland, this 6-month desk study was funded by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Environmental RTDI programme 2000–2006. This study was designed to review the monitoring and research requirements, and the state of preparation of Ireland, for WFD implementation within the timescale and milestones prescribed.   

Full executive summary in report.