Vol. 436 No. 4
14 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for the Environment the plans, if any, he has to establish, under his Department's jurisdiction, an interdepartmental committee to deal with the major issues on water quality on the Shannon System and Lough Derg which a recent study by the ERU and Teagasc highlighted; if so, when he will set it up; the composition of this committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The Lough Derg water quality report was prepared, as a regional initiative, by the Lough Derg working group comprising broadly-based representation from Shannon Development, three county councils, Bord na Móna, the ESB, the University of Limerick and the private sector. I consider that a similar regional-based arrangement, rather than a central Government committee, will afford the best means of carrying forward the objectives of this excellent report.
Nationally administered programmes, such as my Department's water and sanitary services programme, will of course seek to accommodate and support the objectives of the Lough Derg report as far as possible.
Would the Minister agree that the report on this waterway demonstrates an appalling, unacceptable level of mismanagement and abuse, particularly on the part of local authorities under the direct control of his Department? In view of the fact that Lough Derg is a major national water resource, renowned as a tourist, recreational and leisure area, giving substantial employment, will the Minister give the House an assurance that the recommendations in that report will be funded and implemented by his Department? Will he agree there needs to be an exceptional degree of co-operation and co-ordination between his Department and the various other Government Departments involved, including statutory bodies and local authorities, to enable a resolution to be found to this wanton destruction of an invaluable amenity?
While the vast majority of the recommendations fall to be implemented by local authorities, it is fair to say — as the Deputy has implied — that the remit also falls on the Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry in the sampling of soil and slurry storage facilities, on Bord na Móna in relation to peat silting and on the Environmental Protection Agency in relation to the hydrometric network. Co-ordination between all of those authorities will be essential to the successful implementation of a necessary but quite expensive scheme of remedial action which will entail very considerable resources.
I am determined to commit the maximum resources possible to the operational programme for environmental services in the areas of responsibility which fall to local authorities. We must also continue to have discussions in relation to some of the phosphate problems, particularly with the detergent producers and other groups who can help to ensure that the waste pipeline creating this problem is cut off. It is one thing to try to have the maximum resources possible to deal with an existing problem but the necessity to cut off the avenues which are continuing to create these waste problems must also be attacked. I assure Deputy Lowry that all the necessary resources, as far as is practicable and possible, will be provided. I am sure he has seen evidence of that in Ballina and in the pump out facilities at Mountshannon, Tullamore, Portumna, Terryglass and other centres around the Shannon where we have not only to deal with the Lough Derg problem but with those up river.
The Minister is sending a lot of money down that way.
I know this question makes specific mention of Lough Derg but I am sure the Minister will be aware of similar problems along the Shannon. Perhaps he would make a comprehensive statement to the House in relation to problems in Lough Ree and the stem of the river between Athlone and Banagher which is very severely silted? Will the Minister agree that the River Shannon needs a new authority as its problems are exacerbated where there is one navigation authority and where the ESB and Bord na Móna have certain authority? Would it not be much better if there was a single authority to govern navigation and pollution control on the Shannon?
In regard to the problems upstream in Lough Derg, one of the very good experiences of the regional group representing Galway, Clare, north Tipperary and Limerick was the fact that those groups were able to come together and reach agreement on the first priority phase—Lough Derg.
That is on the Shannon.
The establishment of a single authority has been trotted out on a number of occasions and merits consideration. The Environmental Protection Agency has a very specific mandate in the area of pollution. I do not think another group should take over that responsibility as far as the Shannon is concerned.
It cannot control it.
I support the greatest possible co-ordination — this was covered in part by Deputy Lowry's supplementary question — between the local authorities, the State agencies and other various groups. It should not always be necessary to establish a new structure to do something. We want to give as many resources as we can to the organisations involved, instead of establishing another structure, to see if the necessary works can be carried out.
(Laoighis-Offaly): Is the Minister aware that concern has been expressed in the midland counties at the apparent concentration in the national plan on coastal pollution protection? Will he confirm that the operational programme, which will put in place the environmental protection measures, will take account of the need to protect and improve the water quality in the Shannon which is the prime tourist resource in the midlands?
We may be going beyond the scope of this question.
I would dearly wish, as Minister for the Environment, to be able to tell everyone there were enough resources to do everything but that would not be credible or possible. I hope to be able to demonstrate in the operational programme for environmental services, that the share out of these funds will be even-handed as far as the need and geographic area is concerned.
There was a reference to expenditure incurred in coastal regions. Those familiar with the ENVIREG programme in some of the Border areas and in the south west will know that a number of schemes qualified for inclusion in that programme which may have given rise to the views expressed by Deputy Gallagher. I would like to be able to address the problem nationally in the overall programme during the next six years.
In view of the Minister's stated intention to reduce the level of waste into the lake, is he prepared to make funds available for sewerage works at Nenagh and at Roscrea Co-op?
I was hoping we were dealing with a regional question but it now appears we are down to a specific and very sensitive geographical enclosure. To the extent that I can find resources which would take account not only of the needs of Deputy Lowry's constituency and others in the region and elsewhere I will certainly do all I can.
To regionalise the matter, is the Minister prepared to make a commitment to Offaly County Council that the appropriate funds will be made available to Birr and Tullamore in view of his reply to the initial question regarding his commitment to improve the water quality in Shannon? Does he accept that this is a specific problem as far as Tullamore and Birr sewerage schemes are concerned and is he prepared to give a commitment?
We are getting into specifics.
I am really at a loss to answer Deputy Flanagan's question because, as he will know, I recently visited Birr to open the new sewerage scheme being established there. I hope he is fully aware of what happened in that respect.
It is not finished.
We have just completed a very fine scheme in Birr which, I hope, will serve the needs of that area for a very long time. As soon as I have a moment to spare I will look at Tullamore as well.
A final, brief question from Deputy Connor.
The Minister said that rather than setting up a new agency his Department might strengthen those authorities along the River Shannon who have authority to act, i.e., the local authorities. Will the Minister specifically outline the 1994 allocations to local authorities in Counties Roscommon, Westmeath and Longford? What funds will he make available towards the improvement of water quality along the River Shannon since all those counties will have riparian lands in 1994?
It is too early to say. The operational programme for environmental services will be submitted to the European Commission as soon as possible, I hope within the next few weeks. The answer to this question is tied into the current debate on the Estimates which will be resolved in the course of the next two weeks. I hope to be able to start new schemes to enable the Deputy to relax.
I have listened attentively to the Minister's reply. Because of the substantial outbreak of algae bloom reported on Louth Derg last year I wrote to the Minister suggesting he should take the Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry into his confidence to devise a scheme whereby farmers and others would refrain from additional use of fertiliser on the banks of Louth Derg. Has the Minister taken any initiative in that area apart from setting up his committee?
I am delighted Deputy Carey has come in to debate this issue. I am also glad he touched on an area which, while it is the specific responsibility of another Minister, indirectly falls to me in relation to problems associated with intensive use of special types of fertiliser. It has emerged from the Lough Derg report that in some cases the overuse of certain fertilisers was not only a cause of the problems at the lake but had no economic value for the farm. I have already had consultations with Teagasc and the local farming organisations in this regard.
We have but ten minutes left for questions and I would like to facilitate as many as possible of those Deputies who have tabled questions.
