Vol. 365 No. 14
asked the Minister for the Environment if, in view of the fact that Dublin Bay is polluted by raw sewage emanating from Dublin city and county, whether he has any plans to treat the sewage before discharge; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
46.
asked the Minister for the Environment the progress made to date in establishing a "Dublin Bay Management Plan"; and if he will give details of the action he proposes to take to curb the high level of pollution in Dublin Bay.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 23 and 46 together. While there have been isolated incidents of raw sewage entering the waters of Dublin Bay, it is not accepted that the position is as suggested in the questions. These waters are monitored by the Eastern Health Board on behalf of the local authorities and I am advised that, in the opinion of the health board, the waters do not constitute a danger to public health.
Considerable progress has been made by the local authorities in recent years in improving the arrangements for dealing with the discharge of sewage. In 1985 the Greater Dublin drainage scheme, which cost in excess of £50 million, was commissioned. I recently approved Dublin Corporation's proposals to accept a tender in the sum of £5.459 million for the extension of the treatment facilities at Ringsend. These additional treatment facilities, when complete, will further improve the quality of the effluent being discharged into the bay. In addition, my Department approved proposals for the Blackrock main drainage scheme (Stage II), on 19 June 1985, which will have the effect of linking up the Dún Laoghaire area sewerage system to the Ringsend treatment works. Dún Laoghaire Corporation recently submitted further proposals to extend their original scheme to take in additional discharge. These revised proposals are being urgently examined in my Department and I hope to give a decision on them shortly. These schemes which together are estimated to cost over £14 million will result in further improvements in water quality.
As regards the management plan for Dublin Bay, I understand that the Regional Development Organisation have commissioned An Foras Forbartha to carry out a scoping report, the results of which will assist the steering committee in deciding the terms of reference for the project.
