Vol. 524 No. 2
372 Ms Clune asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the steps she has taken to investigate the alleged works that are being carried out by Kerry County Council in conjunction with Dúchas in the Killarney National Park; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22330/00]
I have received a report from the heritage service of my Department – Dúchas – on the development of integrated constructed wetlands undertaken by Kerry County Council in Killarney National Park as environmental enhancement works.
An integrated constructed wetland, ICW, is a method of treating waste by natural biological processes. Ponds are constructed and planted with appropriate plants which naturally remove excess nutrients from waste water, such as in this case, phosphates. They are an environmentally sustainable waste management solution, which works in harmony with natural ecological processes. They also act as a safety buffer if, for any reason, the treatment plant should not work properly.
The treated waste water from the Killarney town sewage treatment plant is discharged into Lough Leane in compliance with the appropriate legislation. Discharges are already at standards of best practice having already had tertiary treatment but in order to improve further the quality of the treated waste water and thus lake water quality Kerry County Council officials decided to create ICW which will further clean the waste before discharge into the lakes. In addition to the immediate benefits the constructed wetland will have for the natural heritage within Killarney National Park, it will also serve as an example of best practice in waste water management for landowners and local authorities elsewhere.
The ICW is within a candidate Special Area of Conservation – cSAC. When Dúchas was consulted, an assessment was carried out by a Departmental official who is a qualified ecologist. He was satisfied that the project would have a positive impact and would have no significant adverse impact on the cSAC.
When questions were raised with Kerry County Council about the necessity to secure formal planing permission for this project, the council, which had up to then been of the opinion that formal planning approval was not required because of the nature and scope of the works involved, decided to reconsider its position on this and to suspend operations at the ICW.
My officials are making themselves available to meet interested parties to discuss the issue. One group has sought a meeting and a date has been proposed.
