The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate, Environment, and Energy will travel to County Wexford on 15 May 2026 for an off-site meeting to examine progress at Lady’s Island Lake.
The meeting will take place at Wexford County Council offices and will be chaired by Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí, the committee’s Cathaoirleach.
It is split into two sessions. The first, from 10:00 to 11:30, will involve the Strategic Oversight Group for Lady’s Island Lake. The second, from 11:30 to 12:30, will include the Save Lady’s Island Lake Campaign Group and the Lady’s Island Lake Drainage Committee.
The committee previously published a report containing seven recommendations for the long-term restoration of the lake, following an examination of the CLEAR study by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Ó Muirí said the continuing ecological crisis at Lady’s Island Lake was ‘a devastating example of environmental decline in Ireland today.’
‘For over 40 years, the situation has continued to deteriorate despite the efforts of the local community,’ he said.
‘Our committee published our report on the examination of the EPA’s research study on Our Lady’s Island Lake last year,’ he added. ‘In the report we recommended that a new set of regulations, standards and practices for farming near large water-bodies be developed to halt environmental decline and ensure their long-term protection.’
Lady’s Island Lake is a 300-hectare coastal lagoon designated as a Special Protection Area and Special Area of Conservation. It is also a place of pilgrimage.
A serious problem at the lake was first identified in 1983, when a local newspaper described it as a ‘cesspool.’
The EPA’s CLEAR study found that Lady’s Island Lake is one of Ireland’s most eutrophic lagoons, with chlorophyll a levels more than 10 times higher than reference conditions. The study identified runoff of excessive nitrogen and phosphorus from agriculture as the main cause, and recommends a five to seven-fold reduction in these inputs to restore the lagoon.
Dr Brendan O’Connor, a marine biologist and co-author of the EPA report, told RTÉ that the lake ‘from many points of view, is dead.’ He said the cause is excessive nutrients from agricultural run-off leading to algal blooms that block light and kill plants and animals on the lakebed.
Wexford County Council has erected signs prohibiting swimming in the lake and advising dog owners not to let dogs drink the water due to algal blooms.
The committee’s recommendations include directing that Wexford County Council lead the long-term restoration with support of several government departments and authorities. The report also recommends taking inspiration from the Duncannon European Innovation Partnership and the Lough Carra project in County Mayo to harness local community and farmer participation.
The action taken to restore Lady’s Island Lake should be used as ‘a national exemplar of community-led agri-environmental schemes,’ the report stated.