Vol. 490 No. 5
63 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government his views on the problems created in resort villages and small towns due to the lack of adequate sewerage facilities and treatment plants; the effect, if any, this is having on the attraction of these areas; if his Department will draw up a comprehensive plan to eliminate these problems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7135/98]
My Department, in conjunction with local authorities, is involved in a major programme of works to upgrade sewage treatment and collection infrastructure to comply with the requirements of the urban waste water treatment directive and to ensure, amongst other things, that the high quality of our bathing waters is maintained. The directive stipulates that all sewage discharges from population equivalents of 2,000 or more must receive secondary treatment by the year 2005. Many resort towns and villages are benefiting from the provision of this infrastructure which is being implemented under my Department's water and sewerage services investment programme and a number of sub-programmes and initiatives, such as the resorts and serviced land initiatives and the small schemes element of the rural water programme.
In 1996 a special initiative was introduced by my Department to improve water and sewerage facilities in designated resort towns. Nine schemes were approved to advance under this initiative and to the end of 1997 a total of just over £2 million has been expended on these schemes and a further £2.4 million will be spent to complete them. A total of six schemes has been completed and a further three schemes will be completed this year.
