Michael Finucane
Question:27 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for the Environment the steps, if any, he intends taking to deal with the deterioration in the quality of the water in Lough Derg; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2301/94]
Written Answers. - Lough Derg Water Quality.
Michael Lowry
Question:38 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for the Environment the steps, if any, he intends taking to deal with the deterioration in the quality of the water in Lough Derg; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2297/94]
Donal Carey
Question:39 Mr. Carey asked the Minister for the Environment the steps, if any, he intends taking to deal with the deterioration in the quality of the water in Lough Derg; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2300/94]
Helen Keogh
Question:70 Ms Keogh asked the Minister for the Environment the action, if any, that has been taken since his recent meeting with Save Our Lough Derg Group about the pollution of Lough Derg and the Shannon River; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2340/94]
Seán Barrett
Question:104 Mr. Barrett asked the Minister for the Environment the steps, if any, he intends taking to deal with the deterioration in the quality of the water in Lough Derg; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2414/94]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 27, 38, 39, 70 and 104 together.
Some £20 million has been invested in recent years on sewage treatment designed to improve water quality in Lough Derg and in the river which feed into the lake: secondary treatment has been provided at Athlone, Ballina, Ballinasloe, Birr, Tullamore and Nenagh. A major application for EU Cohesion Fund financing has recently been submitted to the European Commission. The work involved, which will cost some £30 million, includes major schemes in Roscrea, Portumna, Clara, Ferbane, Castlerea, Moate, Scarriff, Athlone, Banagher and Killaloe as well as the ugrading of facilities and the installation of phosphorus removal at a number of other sites.
My Department has been financing a programme to provide pump-out facilities for wastes from pleasure craft in the Shannon system. Facilities have been provided or are in course of provision, at Mountshannon, Dromineer, Athlone, Ballina-Killaloe, Carrick-on-Shannon, Shannonbridge, Tullamore and Edenderry. Facilities will be provided at Portumna and Ballyleague in conjunction with sewage treatment proposals.
A range of measures has also been developed which will assist in dealing with inputs to Lough Derg from farming. These include the new REPS scheme and the new control of farm pollution scheme which commenced on 1 September 1994. A code of practice for nitrates is also being finalised and should be completed in the near future.
Discussions are taking place in a national context with the Irish Detergent and Allied Products Associations regarding the promotion of the use of phosphate-free detergents. Considerable progress has been made in the increased use domestically of phosphate-free products which now represent about 40 per cent of overall domestic consumptions of washing powders and liquids.
Co-ordination of local measures and initiatives for the improvement of Lough Derg water quality is being undertaken by the Mid-West Regional Authority.