Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 3 Nov 1998

Vol. 495 No. 7

Written Answers. - Water and Sewerage Schemes.

John Gormley

Ceist:

491 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to water quality problems in the Liffey arising from discharges from the Osberstown sewage treatment plant near Naas, County Kildare, which is apparently of insufficient capacity to deal with the present level of sewage from its catchment area; the plans, if any, he has to resource the relevant local authority to upgrade the plant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21340/98]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Dempsey)

Approval to proceed to construction with a phase 1 extension of the Osberstown sewage treatment plant was given to Kildare County Council on 6 August last. Phase 1 involves an increase in the treatment capacity from a design capacity of 40,000 population equivalent to 60,000 population equivalent, and it will cater for discharges from Prosperous, Kilcullen and Athgarvan. The new plant will incorporate nutrient removal and sludge treatment facilities.

The main objectives of the scheme are to ensure compliance with the requirements of the Urban Waste Water Directive and ensure acceptable quality of the receiving water to enable its beneficial uses to be maintained.

A further proposal to proceed with the phase 2 extension to increase the treatment capacity to 80,000 population equivalent was recently received in my Department and is under consideration.