Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 9 May 1995

Vol. 452 No. 5

Written Answers. - Lower Liffey Valley Sewerage Scheme.

Eoin Ryan

Ceist:

53 Mr. E. Ryan asked the Minister for the Environment the public body, if any, which has responsibility for funding and implementing the lower Liffey sewerage scheme; the progress made to date; the expected date of resolution of the application for Cohesion Funds of the River Liffey catchment plan; the local authority which is responsible for water quality on each stretch of the river; the information to hand on the level of pollution in the Liffey; if his Department or any of its agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency, have undertaken or intend to undertake any study of the problems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [88218/95]

Minister for the Environment (Mr. Howlin)

I refer to the reply to Question No. 50 of 27 April 1995.

My Department has responsibility for securing EU funding for major water and sewerage projects, including individual projects included in the lower Liffey valley sewerage scheme. Projects are implemented by the local authority concerned, in this case Kildare County Council. So far under the scheme, a secondary treatment plant has been provided at Leixlip to service Leixlip, Celbridge, Maynooth and Kilcock.

The European Commission is responsible for determining applications for assistance under the Cohesion Fund; its decision on the application covering the lower Liffey valley scheme is awaited.

The local authorities concerned — Dublin Corporation, Fingal County Council, South Dublin County Council, Meath County Council, Kildare County Council and Wicklow County Council — are currently finalising a draft water quality management plan for the River Liffey. The draft plan indicated that just over half, 54 per cent, of the surveyed channel length in the Liffey catchment is completely free of pollution. Slight pollution-eutrophication affects almost one quarter, 22.5 per cent, of surveyed channel and more pronounced moderate pollution-hypertrophication affects a similar proportion, 22.5 per cent. Serious pollution is now confined to short stretches in two small streams, the Lyreen and its tributary and Clonshanbo Stream.

The plan, which is expected to be adopted shortly, will facilitate the authorities in addressing the management needs for the river catchment on a comprehensive basis.