asked the Minister for the Environment the proposals he has for ensuring that the Royal Canal, the Tolka River and the River Liffey are pollution-free in view of their present polluted state; and if he will outline any arrangements made or being made by his Department with a view to improving the quality of these waterways.
Written Answers. - Dublin Waterways Pollution.
379.
The primary control and regulatory functions under the Local Government (Water Pollution) Act, 1977, are vested in local authorities and my role is mainly a supervisory one related to the implementation of national environmental policy on water pollution control. The preservation or improvement of the quality of particular waters is a matter for the local authorities within whose functional areas the waters are located.
The problems which exist in the waters referred to by the Deputy are largely confined to the Dublin city section. I can say that improvements in the River Liffey can be expected to result from the completion of the greater Dublin drainage scheme and the implementation of licensing control of discharges of trade effluent under the 1977 Act. The imposition of licensing controls can also be expected to bring about improvements in the quality of the lower reaches of the Tolka. As to the Royal Canal the main problem is one of dumping rather than pollution.