asked the Minister for Local Government if, in the national interest, he will sanction a 100 per cent gain towards the provision of a third-stage treatment unit in Killarney, County Kerry, to prevent harmful phosphates and nitrates, which survive earlier stages of sewage treatment, from entering the lakes.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Kerry Sewage Treatment Unit.
29.
A new sewage treatment works costing £269,000 is now operating satisfactorily and I understand that there is a reduction in phosphates, but it will take some time to establish what effect this reduction will have on the water quality in the lake or whether, in fact, tertiary treatment of the effluent from the works would be likely to be more effective in preventing eutrophication. When the local authority have obtained technical advice on these matters, it will be for them to initiate any scheme necessary. There are no proposals before my Department at present. I would remind the Deputy however that the assistance given by my Department towards the cost of sanitary services schemes is given by way of contributions to the annual loan charges incurred by the local authorities in repaying the loans raised to finance the schemes and that the rate of assistance appropriate to schemes provided by the Killarney Urban District Council is 50 per cent.