Members of the public with an interest in water quality are being invited to an information meeting on Thursday, October 9, in Loughrea, where plans for a new Catchment Community Forum (CCF ) for Galway Bay South East will be discussed.
The meeting, organised by the Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO ), takes place at 7pm in the Comworks building (H62 KF63 ). It will outline how the forum will work, opportunities for public participation, and the nomination process for members.
The Galway Bay South East catchment is one of only five pilot areas in Ireland chosen to trial the CCF model, part of the national Water Action Plan (2024 - 2027 ). The forum is designed to give local communities a stronger voice in managing water resources, supporting local initiatives, and feeding into regional and national decision-making on water quality.
The event follows a well-attended workshop last year where community groups across Galway helped co-design the proposed model. Dr Cillian Roden will be among the speakers on the night, with time also allocated for discussion and questions.
Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O'Sullivan TD, encouraged wide participation, saying, "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 result in real action on the ground."
The Galway Bay South East catchment was selected for the pilot because of its environmental significance, the water quality pressures in the region, and the strength of local community activity.
Organisers say the forum will provide a platform for collaboration on projects such as Local Catchment Management Plans while strengthening community-led action to protect water quality.
