Locals urged to attend upcoming Dundalk meeting on pilot community forum on water quality

Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan TD, has urged members of the public, local businesses, farmers and recreational water users in Louth and along the border to attend an upcoming information event on improving water quality organised by the Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO).

LAWPRO is set to roll out five pilot catchment community fora to enhance local community engagement in water catchments across the country with the goal of improving water quality.  

As part of this drive they will be hosting the Newry-Fane Glyde-Dee Catchment Community Forum Information Evening on Monday, 29th September at Mo Chara, 19 Roden Place, Dundalk, commencing at 7:30pm. 

Speaking about the initiative, Minister O’Sullivan said: 

“I strongly urge members of the public in Louth and in surrounding counties to attend the upcoming information event to help shape the upcoming forum in this area. Water quality affects us all. We want to bring together those who live, work, farm or just enjoy these waters. The voices and opinions of all present will set the groundwork for real action on the ground. Through collaboration and engagement with local communities we can take positive action and play a pivotal role to safeguard our most precious waterways for generations to come.”

“I am particularly pleased to see the Newry Fane Glyde Dee Forum coming together. I believe this forum will contribute to positive environmental cross-border engagement and collaboration in water quality,” he noted. 

As well as Louth, information evenings will take place over the next fortnight in Meath, Wexford and Galway to create awareness about the fora, discuss avenues for participation, and encourage interested individuals or members of local community groups to get involved. 

The first of these information meetings was held in the Mal Bay Catchment on Wednesday the 17th September 2025 in Ennistymon, Co. Clare, and was attended by over 40 people living in the catchment.  

The remaining meetings are as follows:

These meetings will inform future pilots, which will run from November 2025 to January 2027 located in the Slaney (South East), Boyne (Midlands & East), Mal Bay (South West), Galway Bay SE (West), and Newry-Fane Glyde-Dee (Border) catchments. 

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The pilots will be evaluated throughout the process to inform a proposal on the rollout of a national Catchment Community Fora model and framework.

Anthony Coleman, Director of Services with LAWPRO said the Fora will give communities a role and a voice: 

“Healthy rivers, lakes, and coastal waters are vital for every community in Ireland. These pilots are about turning community insights into real action. The fora will give local people a stronger voice in shaping how we protect and restore our water environment. By working together, we can build a model that empowers communities and delivers lasting improvements in water quality,” he said.