Just half of rivers and lakes in good condition

According to the data, there were 9% fewer river water bodies in good or high ecological status between 2016 and 2021 compared with 2010 and 2015. File picture: Inland Fisheries Ireland

Just half of Ireland's rivers and lakes were deemed to be of good ecological condition in the latter half of the past decade, with rivers especially dropping in quality from previous assessments.

According to data published by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), around 51% of monitored river water bodies were classified as "good or high ecological status" between 2016 and 2021, while 49% were in moderate, poor, or bad ecological status.