Implementation of the Water Framework Directive - Policy Coherence, Managing Trade-Offs, Financing and Capacity

Tipperary County Council commissioned research to support the Water Forum in developing policy advice for Ireland's 3rd and 4th cycle River Basin Management Plans under the Water Framework Directive, focusing on policy coherence, managing trade-offs, financing, and capacity. The research, valued at €32,500 and awarded on 12 May 2026, evaluates Ireland's performance against four OECD water governance principles, identifies implementation obstacles, and presents policy recommendations informed by international case studies. The work covers cross-sectoral coordination mechanisms, trade-off management across water users and regions, financial resource efficiency, and capacity gaps in policy, planning, and administration.