Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 24 Oct 1996

Vol. 470 No. 6

Written Answers. - Sewage Treatment Plants.

Dermot Ahern

Question:

48 Mr. D. Ahern asked the Minister for the Environment whether his policy in relation to the building and siting of major sewage treatment plants has changed since his decision to site underground the proposed sewage treatment plant at Mutton Island, Galway, in order to ensure that all future treatment plants are constructed in such a way as to be sympathetic to the environment and to the general public who live and use the general area involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19606/96]

Minister for the Environment (Mr. Howlin)

Policy with regard to the design and construction of waste water treatment plants, including the type of treatment process used, is based primarily on the principle of using best available technology not entailing excessive cost to meet the standards laid down in the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive. Such plants are, for the most part, constructed substantially below groundlevel and are designed, among other things, to minimise visual intrusion. Notwithstanding the higher thresholds set in EU legislation, all proposed waste water treatment plants in this country with capacity above 10,000 population equivalent, must be subjected to environment impact assessment (EIA) procedures. These are designed to allow for public participation in the decision-making process and to ensure that the impact of the proposed development on all aspects of the environment, including the impact on local residents, is fully considered.