Vol. 440 No. 4
48 Mr. E. Kenny asked the Minister for the Environment his views on whether it will be possible to comply with EU directives on the abolition of sewage and effluent disposal into lakes and rivers by the year 2000; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The Environment Action Programme, 1990, envisages expenditure of up to £230 million on inland sewage treatment schemes by the year 2000. Good progress has been made towards this objective under the Operational Programme for Water, Sanitary and other Local Services, 1989-1993. A total of £117 million was expended on the provision and upgrading of relevant infrastructure in this period.
The Operational Programme for Environmental Services 1994-1999, which is currently being prepared, will continue to make provision for inland sewage treatment schemes in line with the EU Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive and the Government's standing commitment to provide secondary, or where necessary tertiary, treatment for inland towns.
