Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 30 Jun 1998

Vol. 493 No. 3

Written Answers. - Water Pollution.

Trevor Sargent

Question:

309 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government whether he has satisfied himself that the county councils are sufficiently resourced relative to the control of water pollution to carry out their responsibilities to the full extent required in view of the fact that almost two dozen fish kills have so far been recorded in 1998; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16050/98]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment and Local Government (Mr. D. Wallace)

Primary responsibility to prevent pollution incidents rests with those engaged in activities that could entail a pollution risk. However, as statutory pollution control authorities, local authorities have a key role in protecting water resources. The EPA is also responsible in so far as activities licensable by the Agency are concerned.

I refer to the replies to Questions Nos. 28 of 6 May, 1998 and 125 of 10 June, 1998 concerning steps I have taken in regard to the intensification, by local authorities, of efforts to prevent and deal with pollution of our inland waterways through the implementation of the full range of statutory powers available to the authorities. These replies also provide details of my Department's comprehensive Catchement-Based Strategy Against Eutrophication, Managing Ireland's Rivers and Lakes which aims at preventing any further decline in water quality and restoring waters currently affected by pollution. A copy of the strategy is available in the Oireachtas Library.

The catchment strategy also involves a major capital investment by my Department in upgraded sewage treatment facilities throughout the country, including provision of phosphorus reduction facilities where warranted in light of local water quality conditions. This sewerage investment programme provides for £1.3 billion up to 2005, with a record £184.6 million provided by my Department for investment in sewage schemes and water supplies in the current year. Catchment based projects supported by the Cohesion Fund provide, in addition, for comprehensive monitoring and management systems which will enable pollution control strategies to be tailored to the particular needs of the local situation.

While I am satisfied that local authorities have adequate resources to carry out their statutory water pollution control functions, and I have, in particular, urged them to use the full range of powers and remedies available under the Water Pollution Acts, including the provisions consistent with the "polluter pays" principle to deal with pollution incidents and risks, substantially increased funding will be available from 1999 under the new Local Government Fund to meet the day-to-day expenditure, generally, of local authorities.