Vol. 519 No. 5
228 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will report on the phosphorus-induced decline of Lough Derg; if the EU Commission has stated legal action on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14243/00]
Statutory responsibility for water management and protection, including responsibility for monitoring water quality, rests primarily with local authorities. The Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, is responsible for the establishment and maintenance of databases of information related to the environment for the preparation and implementation of environmental monitoring programmes. The functions of the agency in this regard include supervision of the performance of statutory environmental functions by local authorities.
The report Water Quality in Ireland 1995-1997, issued by the EPA in May 1999, contains the most recent and comprehensive published data available in relation to the quality of Irish waters generally, including lakes. The EPA report, River Shannon, Lake Water Quality Monitoring 1995 to 1997, examines the River Shannon catchment including lakes in more detail. Copies of these reports are available in the Oireachtas Library. Both of the reports classified the trophic status of Lough Derg as moderately eutrophic, and noted that this was a marked improvement from its previous status of strongly eutrophic as reported for the 1991-1994 period. The improvement to the water quality of Lough Derg was confirmed in the recently published EPA report, Ireland's Environment – a Millennium Report, a copy of which is also available in the Oireachtas Library. It is understood that water quality in Lough Derg is continuing to improve. I am not aware of any legal action being taken by the European Commission in respect of Lough Derg.
The Lough Derg and Lough Ree catchment monitoring and management system project, which is administered jointly by Clare County Council and Roscommon County Council, is being undertaken in conjunction with a major investment programme which will upgrade the sewerage networks and waste water treatment plants at 17 of the main population centres within the catchment. Over £48 million has been allocated to the schemes, with 85% financial support provided by the EU Cohesion Fund. It is estimated on completion of all 17 schemes that approximately 78 tonnes of phosphorus will be removed at source.
