Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 November 2018
286. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the steps he is taking in order to cease sewage discharges into the Dublin Bay biosphere from the Howth peninsula with reference to a recent Environmental Protection Agency report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46250/18]
View answerThe EPA issues a report on urban waste water treatment in Ireland every year. The latest report is based on the assessment of effluent monitoring results from 1,100 waste water treatment plants reported to the EPA by Irish Water and on enforcement activities carried out by the EPA during 2017.
Since 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local level, including investment in wastewater treatment plants, and Irish Water’s primary function is to provide clean safe drinking water to customers and to treat and return wastewater safely to the environment. Irish Water takes a strategic, nationwide approach to asset planning and investment, and meeting customer requirements.
Following actions taken by Irish Water, the EPA has found that the number of priority urban areas where waste water treatment needs to improve is down to 132 from 148 in 2016. Of 44 towns and villages where raw sewage was being discharged in 2016, 6 are now connected to treatment plants. The remaining 38 towns and villages, with a population equivalent of 88,000 people, will be connected by 2021.
The River Basin Management Plan 2018 - 2021 outlines what Ireland is doing to protect and improve our waters. Among a broad suite of measures, the plan provides for €1.7 billion worth of investment by Irish Water in 255 urban wastewater projects which are designed to achieve compliance with the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (UWWTD). Of the urban areas where works are required, the majority will be compliant by end 2021, including Ringsend which is the single largest wastewater treatment plant in the country, accounting for 41% of the total wastewater load.
Irish Water has developed a long term investment perspective in order to strategically address the deficiencies in the public water and wastewater system. It is optimising investment decisions to ensure that they utilise scarce capital by making investments that deliver the best possible improvements for these communities. Building water and wastewater treatment plants and upgrading or building water and wastewater networks as necessary will require significant investment.
If the Deputy has more specific queries in relation to waste water services issues, Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. The team can be contacted via email to oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on a dedicated number, 1890 578 578.
