'Who has ever heard of them?' - Questions raised over National Water Forum
Councillors questioned An Fóram Uisce’s role after learning the national forum is based in Nenagh
Councillors were surprised to learn during the July meeting of Tipperary County Council that An Fóram Uisce, the national water forum, is based in the Council Civic Offices in Nenagh.
An Fóram Uisce was statutorily established in June 2018, under the Water Services Act in 2017. According to their own website, it is the only statutory body established to advise the Minister on water policy and management in Ireland and provides stakeholder input into policy development.
Cllr Séamie Morris raised the issue during a debate on water services, saying he had examined the legislation relating to the establishment of Irish Water and discovered the role of An Fóram Uisce.
Cllr Morris stated: "Who has ever heard of them, who has ever engaged with them?" he asked. "Let's invite An Fóram Uisce to meet with us as councillors... they don’t have far to travel."
Chief Executive for Tipperary County Council Sinéad Carr, in response, advised the councillor that the group were, in fact, under their noses.
"In relation to An Fóram Uisce, Councillor Morris is correct. They have been set up and they are here based in the Civic Offices in Nenagh. They are a policy-based forum made up of a variety of different stakeholders from around the country and they feed into policy levels around Irish Water and how it operates." She added, "So I do not think there will be any issue in asking them to come here and update about what it is they do."
Cllr Morris also raised questions about the funding arrangement linked to the forum, referring to a Memorandum of Understanding between the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, An Fóram Uisce and Tipperary County Council. The memorandum, dated 26 June 2026, records funding of €802,926 and states that it is intended to facilitate An Fóram Uisce in carrying out its statutory responsibilities.
“The funding that is done is managed through us" said Ms Carr. “We do it effectively like a shared service, so it is funded through central government and we’re the stream through which manage the finance. I think we can clear up all of that when we do a presentation."
Following the council meeting, the Tipperary Star contacted An Fóram Uisce seeking clarification on its role, its relationship with Uisce Éireann and the funding arrangements for its operation in Nenagh.
In a statement, An Fóram Uisce said it was established in June 2018 under Part 5 of the Water Services Act 2017. An Fóram Uisce stated: “The Water Forum is an independent, advisory, stakeholder body representative of a wide range of stakeholders with an interest in the quality of Ireland’s water resources.”
The Forum said its statutory functions are the following:
- “To advise the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage on Government water policy, including water conservation, rural water services and the interests of Uisce Éireann customers. “
- “To advise the Water Policy Advisory Committee on the River Basin Management Plan, the implementation of the Water Framework Directive and the management of the inland aquatic environment and water resources.”
- “To make recommendations to Uisce Éireann in relation to policy documents and the performance of its functions.”
- “To advise and provide observations to the Commission for Regulation of Utilities in relation to the performance of Uisce Éireann.”
- “To examine other water related matters, including carrying out research to support providing advice to the Minister.”
The Forum said its members are appointed directly by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in accordance Water Services Act 2017. The current membership of 26 represents organisations and sectors with an interest in water issues, including agriculture, angling, business, forestry, environment, rural water, rivers trusts, trade unions and Uisce Eireann domestic consumers.
Responding to questions about its relationship with Uisce Éireann, An Fóram Uisce stated: “While the Forum has a statutory advisory role to make recommendations to Uisce Éireann and to advise the Commission for Regulation of Utilities in relation to Uisce Éireann's performance, it is not part of Uisce Éireann and does not carry out operational functions on its behalf. The Forum operates independently, with its advice informed by the views and expertise of members representing a broad range of stakeholder sectors, including the interests of public water consumers.”
Addressing An Fóram Uisce’s presence in Nenagh, the Forum explained that it has a hosting arrangement with Tipperary County Council, under which the council provides secretariat and administrative support, including office accommodation in the Civic Offices. It said this arrangement does not affect its statutory independence or influence its work.
The Forum also clarified that all of its activities and staffing are fully funded by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. It noted that while funding passes through Tipperary County Council under a Memorandum of Funding Agreement, all expenditure incurred by the council on behalf of the Forum is fully recouped by the Department.
According to figures supplied by the Forum, departmental funding amounted to €688,533 in 2025, €679,279 in 2024, €645,756 in 2023, €589,592 in 2022, €553,570 in 2021, €551,783 in 2020 and €361,840 in 2019.