asked the Minister for the Environment if he will make a statement with regard to the discharge of untreated waste and sewage into rivers and seas by local authorities, or contractors working on their behalf, or any other State or semi-State body, giving details of amounts, locations, frequency, and general nature both generally and with specific reference to each individual local authority or other body so involved; if he will make a statement regarding the Government's attitude to this pollution; if he will outline the health implications; and the plans, if any, he has to ensure that this pollution ceases.
Written Answers. - Discharge of Untreated Waste and Sewage.
13.
Specific information of the kind requested by the Deputy is not available in my Department. However, if the Deputy has a specific case in mind, I will certainly have the position investigated and communicate with him in the matter.
One of the main objectives of the Sanitary Services Programme is to prevent and abate water pollution. Over the last six years, approximately £227 million has been spent on providing new and improved sewage treatment systems as compared with £78 million spent in the previous six years. This is indicative of the importance and the high priority given to schemes of this kind. I intend to ensure that such schemes continue to attract the high priority they deserve and that public health considerations are satisfactorily catered for in their design.
Following the recent review of water quality in our rivers and lakes, I have asked each local authority to identify pollution stretches in their areas and to formulate programmes to deal with them. These programmes will form the basis of future plans to deal effectively with water pollution.