The environment action programme 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. A significant proportion of this investment will relate to Dublin Bay; relevant measures identified in the action programme and currently being planned are the provision of secondary treatment at Ringsend sewage treatment works, the ending of sewage sludge dumping by Dublin Corporation and the development of alternative sludge disposal arrangements.
The operational programme: water, sanitary and other local services, 1989-1993, contains an indicative list of sewerage projects to be co-financed by the EC in that period. The present estimated value of projects on this list which relate to Dublin Bay is some £65 million.