Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 February 2017
279. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the status of efforts to prevent raw sewage being pumped into rivers across the State and to address the associated public health risks; his views on the fact that the State has failed to provide wastewater treatment facilities in 38 areas across the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8601/17]
View answerThe Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the environmental regulator responsible for the licensing, authorisation and enforcement of urban waste water discharges consistent with the requirements of the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive which sets out requirements for the collection, treatment and discharge of urban waste water, with the objective of protecting the environment from the adverse effects of waste water discharges. Since 1 January 2014 Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels, including the management of urban waste water collection and treatment infrastructure, and is responsible for compliance with the requirements of authorisations issued by the EPA.
The European Commission announced on 15 February 2017 that it is taking Ireland to the Court of Justice of the EU for its failure to ensure that urban waste water in 38 agglomerations across the country is adequately collected and treated to prevent serious risks to human health and the environment.
Since taking over responsibility for water services, Irish Water has put in place a prioritised range of projects to deal with historic deficits and lack of investment in waste water treatment across the country. The utility has identified key projects in both their current and their recently approved future capital investment plans to address all non-compliances in their treatment plants by 2021 in each of the areas identified by the EU as part of this ECJ case. Irish water estimates that the cost of this element of their investment programme will exceed €1billion. However, further significant and sustained investment will be required to ensure ongoing compliance.
Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. The team can be contacted via email at oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on a dedicated number, 1890 578 578.
