Dick Spring
Ceist:22 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for the Environment the action which is being taken by the Irish Government to implement Directive 79/923/EEC.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Water Quality.
The designation of coastal waters for the purposes of this directive, the setting of standards, and the implementation of monitoring programmes are primarily matters for the Department of the Marine.
My Department's main responsibility as regards the directive is to ensure that land based activities, including effluent discharges from industry and sewage treatment, are compatible with the maintenance of the water quality standards required by the directive. Local authorities adjoining designated areas take account of the directive when licensing discharges to waters or to sewers and in planning waste water treatment and disposal.
The Operational Programme for Water, Sanitary and other Local Services, 1989-1993, taking account of relevant environmental and economic factors, recognises the importance of a satisfactory accommodation between sewerage services and fishery developments. The programme also acknowledges that in some shellfish growing areas, improvements in water quality are needed to eliminate sewage contamination and promote acquaculture. Schemes in Tralee and Wexford harbours are included in the programme to this end. Further schemes are included in the draft ENVIREG Operational Programme which is awaiting EC Commission approval.
The Environment Action Programme has stated the Government's decision to eliminate untreated discharges of sewage from major coastal towns by the year 2000 at a cost of up to £400 million.