asked the Minister for the Environment if a treatment plant has been sanctioned for the Lurganboy sewerage scheme in Donegal town.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Donegal Sewerage Scheme.
8.
No. Lurganboy will be served by stage 1, phase 1, of the Donegal main drainage scheme. This is an advance section which is nearing completion. Effluent will be discharged through a settling tank to the estuary. I am advised that such effluent is not toxic, that the volume of water available in the estuary is adequate to dilute the effluent to acceptable levels and that, on the basis of information currently available, the provision of a treatment plant is not necessary. Donegal County Council will make suitable arrangements for disposal of the solids from their settling tank. Stage II of the scheme will include provision of comminution and diffuser arrangements but the substantial cost of providing even further treatment does not appear to be warranted at present.
Is this not a retrograde step at a time when European nations are treating their estuary waters in the interests of fishery conservation?
That is very far from Donegal.
It is the same subject matter.
Question No. 8 refers to a specific area.
I am asking the Minister to reconsider this matter in view of the general attitude of EEC countries towards pollution? The Department of the Environment have strict regulations for the farming community. It is my belief that the treatment plant will not cost a very great amount and I am asking the Minister of State to reconsider this matter.
Every consideration has been given to this aspect of the matter. My technical advisers tell me that this scheme is quite adequate to deal with the problem and that there will not be any pollution of the bay. I am quite satisfied to accept their advice.
I should like the Minister of State to look a little further. We have technical people in Cork who tell us that if 5,000 tons of raw sewage were put into the bay it would not cause any harm.
The Deputy is giving information. Will he put a specific question to the Minister of State?
I have looked at the matter.