Vol. 566 No. 4
126 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the progress made with regard to the commitment given in An Agreed Programme for Government that discharges of untreated sewage from big cities and towns into the sea will cease by the end of 2003; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12971/03]
Good progress is being made nationally in the provision of waste water treatment facilities to eliminate untreated sewage discharges in all areas. By end 2003, Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway, and many other smaller urbans, will have state-of-the-art waste water treatment facilities in place and operational. Since 2000, under my Department's water services investment programme, the provision of waste water collection and treatment systems has been completed in the major coastal towns of Dundalk, Drogheda, Midleton, Westport and Courtown-Riverchapel. The Ringsend waste water treatment plant, the largest such project hitherto constructed in Ireland, which is currently being commissioned, will deal with the waste water treatment requirements of all of Dublin city and south Dublin, significant areas of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown and Fingal, and parts of County Meath. This scheme, which includes nutrient removal, will serve a population equivalent to 1.6 million people. It will produce the single biggest ever improvement in the quality of Irish coastal waters and will restore bathing water standards throughout Dublin Bay.
This year will also see the completion of the major waste water treatment schemes currently at an advanced stage of construction in Cork, Limerick, Galway and Wexford. Other major coastal schemes under construction, or due to start this year, include the Carrigaline, Cobh, Dungarvan, Sligo, Tramore and Waterford main drainage schemes. Schemes for Bray, Bundoran, New Ross and Shanganagh are approved for funding to commence in 2004, together with the Arklow main drainage scheme, subject to the outcome of current legal proceedings relating to the proposed location of the treatment plant in the latter case. Completion of these schemes will eliminate all untreated sewage discharges down to 10,000 population equivalent.
The urban waste water directive requires specific waste water treatment and/or collection facilities to be in place by 31 December 2005 for discharges from a graduated range of agglomeration thresholds. The current water services investment programme, which covers the years 2002-04, contains 380 waste water schemes, incorporating all the remaining waste water schemes needed for full compliance with the directive.
At the beginning of the current national development plan, compliance with the 2005 requirements of the urban waste water treatment directive, which extends down to agglomerations of 2,000 population equivalent, stood at 25%.
Additional Information.
This will rise to 87% by the end of 2003. Full compliance by the end of 2005 is the target and the funding being provided for the advancement of relevant schemes approved under my Department's water services investment programme will ensure this is achieved.
Overall, I am more than satisfied with the rate of progress being achieved in the waste water treatment area in response to the programme for Government target and our obligations under the directive
I acknowledge progress has been made in this area. However, my question arises directly from An Agreed Programme for Government which is specific and states that we will ensure that discharges of untreated sewage from our big cities and towns into the sea cease by the end of 2003. By the end of 2003 will untreated sewage go into the sea from big cities and towns or will that practice have ceased? The Minister gave a long list of towns where progress is being made regarding treatment. If the target will not be met at the end of 2003, from what cities and towns will untreated sewage continue to be discharged into the sea?
Significant investment has been made in all areas in recent years. While we may not have all the state-of-the-art facilities there has been a major improvement in the way sewage is dealt with. Ironically, from my point of view, the big urban area that is not to be completed in 2003, out of the five county borough cities, is Waterford. Dublin is being commissioned. Cork, Galway and Limerick will have facilities in place this year. While Waterford is the only one left out, it is ready to roll and the treatment facility should be started this year.
Sligo was one of those mentioned in another area. The delay is not just due to difficulties at my end but many planning issues have arisen. Under the directive, the target date for putting the facilities in place is 2005. I have said we will comply with the directive by 2005. Some schemes have advanced further than others, some are slightly behind, but this is normal in a project of this magnitude. By and large we are on target. It was always expected that some would proceed faster than others for the reasons outlined. I have indicated the others which are due to start this year.
How far behind is the Government in implementing the EU directive in regard to the discharge of raw sewage into the sea from coastal towns of a certain population? What plans has the Minister for the many coastal areas which have large tourist populations in the summer, such as Clifden, and many other seaside towns and villages in my constituency which still pump raw sewage into the sea? I welcome the Minister's information in regard to Galway, despite the fact that the main Galway city sewage treatment plant, although Galway has a population of over 70,000, is still discharging raw sewage into the sea. I am aware the scheme will be completed during 2003.
We have to proceed to the next question.
What plans has the Minister for smaller coastal tourism towns and villages?
I am confident the timeframe of the directive at the end of 2005 can be met. There is a wide range of programmes for many of the small towns all over the country, some of which are in the Deputy's constituency, in the 2004 programme. All of these will be met within the programme. We will then look to the next round of areas that need to be dealt with. It is one programme which is proceeding well and we are largely on target. Significant investment is being made and the results are there for all to see. I want to see this programme fully completed as set out for 2000-04.
