130. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will outline recent funding under the Local Authority Waters Programme; the funding allocated to Dublin City Council and Fingal County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48186/26]

Details of the funding provided to the River Basin Management Service (formerly known as the Local Authority Waters Programme), and Dublin City Council is set out in the table below.

My Department has not provided any funding to Fingal County Council under the Water Quality Programme.

River Basin Management Service The River Basin Management Service (formerly known as the Local Authority Waters Programme) works on behalf of Ireland’s 31 local authorities to protect and restore good water quality in our rivers, lakes, estuaries, ground and coastal water through catchment science and local community engagement. The Service was established to fulfil requirements under the EU Water Framework Directive and is funded by my Department. The Service coordinates the efforts of local authorities and other public bodies in the implementation of Ireland’s River Basin Management Plan, the Water Action Plan 2024.

Farming for Water European Innovation Partnership The purpose of the Farming for Water European Innovation Partnership (EIP) is to support the objectives of the Water Action Plan. It was recognised that there is a significant proportion of farmers which may be having a significant impact on water quality but do not tend to participate in voluntary Agri-environmental schemes for various reasons. The focus of the Farming for Water EIP is on reducing losses of phosphorous, nitrogen and sediment and pesticides to water from agricultural lands by promoting the adoption of innovative best practice in nutrient management, the application of nature based Natural Retention Measures (NWRM) and other suitable measures. The EIP is co-funded by Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (€50million to support farmers to implement measures) and my Department (€10million for the administration of the project plus an additional €29million from National Development Plan (NDP) funding for targeted projects and bespoke measures).

River Basin Management Service Nature Based Solutions The need for a national Nature Based Solution (NbS) fund to support Local Authorities and public bodies to retrofit, mainstream and upscale NbS in the urban environment was identified by key stakeholders working with the River Basin Management Service and DHLGH as part of the National Nature-bases Solutions Strategy. In response my Department has established a new national NbS Capital Fund, funded by my Department and administered by the River Basin Management Service.

Bathing Water Information Portal The Bathing Water Information Portal (BWIP) is intended as a centralised web-based platform for Irish Local Authorities to generate standardised statutory and supplementary bathing water information. This project is being managed by Dublin City Council, on behalf of my Department.

Dublin City Council - Acclimatize Acclimatize II project is a research project being carried out by UCD, which is focusing on potential pollution pressures entering Dublin Bay, with particular focus on the effect on bathing sites around Dublin Bay. The Acclimatize II project is managed by Dublin City Council and funded by member organisations of the Dublin Bay Bathing Water Task Force, which includes my Department.

Dublin City Council - Nature Based Solution Pilot Project My Department is working on the implementation of urban Nature Based Solutions at a national scale to address the pressures from urban runoff, such as increased rainfall patterns due to climate change. Urban Nature-based solutions are also highlighted in the National Adaptation Framework and the Water Sectoral Adaptation Plan as solutions to address the impacts of climate change. A pilot research project funded by my Department, commenced in 2023 and will be completed in 2026 with Dublin City Council. This project will provide valuable information on how nature-based solutions work in the Irish urban situation and compile research on the reduction in pollution from urban runoff by using nature-based solutions.