Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 June 2004
559 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if Ireland is yet fully compliant with the terms of the EU urban wastewater directive as promised in the joint programme. [17537/04]
View answerExcellent progress is being made nationally in the provision of wastewater treatment facilities to meet the requirements of the EU urban wastewater treatment directive. Since 2000, wastewater collection and treatment systems have been completed under my Department's water services investment programme in Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway and in the major towns of Dundalk, Drogheda, Wexford, Midleton, Westport and Courtown and Riverchapel.
The recently completed Ringsend wastewater treatment plant in Dublin deals with the wastewater treatment requirements of all of Dublin city and south Dublin county, significant areas of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown and Fingal, and parts of County Meath. It will produce the single biggest ever improvement in the quality of Irish coastal waters and will restore bathing water standards throughout Dublin Bay. Other major schemes under construction, or due to start this year, include those at Cork Lower Harbour, Dungarvan, Tramore, Waterford, Sligo and Bray/Shanganagh. Schemes for Bundoran, Letterkenny and New Ross are expected to commence in 2005, together with the Arklow main drainage scheme, subject to the outcome of legal proceedings relating to the location of the treatment plant in the latter case.
The urban wastewater treatment directive requires specific wastewater 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 2004 to 2006, incorporates all the remaining wastewater schemes needed for full compliance with the directive. It also includes all the schemes required to give effect to the commitment in the agreed programme for Government for the provision of wastewater treatment for all agglomerations with populations of more than 1,000.
At the beginning of the national development plan, compliance with the year 2005 requirements of the urban wastewater treatment directive stood at 25%. This had risen to 84% by the end of 2003. Overall, I am satisfied with the rate of progress being achieved in the wastewater treatment area in response to our obligations under the directive.
