Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 5 Apr 2001

Vol. 534 No. 2

Written Answers. - Water and Sewerage Schemes.

Proinsias De Rossa

Ceist:

37 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the steps being taken to deal with the inadequacies in waste water treatment facilities in Dublin, Cork and Dundalk, highlighted at a recent EU seminar; if proposed new facilities for each of these locations will not have the capacity to remove key pollutants such as phosphorus and nitrogen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10139/01]

Deirdre Clune

Ceist:

38 Ms Clune asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he is satisfied at the proposed level of waste water treatment that is to be provided at Cork, Dublin and Dundalk; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10162/01]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 37 and 38 together.

Significant progress has been made in the provision of waste water treatment facilities for Cork, Dublin and Dundalk. The treatment works element of the Dundalk sewerage scheme has recently been completed and construction is under way on the treatment plant which forms part of the Dublin main drainage scheme. Work on the Cork plant is expected to commence later this year.

The design of the plants took account of the status of the receiving waters under the urban waste water treatment directive and the findings of the various environmental studies carried out prior to and during the design phase of the projects. Should it be established that a higher level of treatment is required in any of these cases the necessary facilities will be provided. The treatment to be provided will be determined in the light of the particular circumstances pertaining to individual projects. Provision has been made in the design of the Cork and Dublin plants to facilitate the installation of nutrient reduction on a modular basis should this become necessary. The provision of similar facilities in Dundalk is also technically feasible.

The need for a higher level of treatment, such as nutrient removal, will be considered as part of a current review in my Department in relation to areas which should be designated as sensitive areas for the purposes of urban waste water treatment directive. This review is being assisted by an assessment which was provided to my Department very recently by the EPA in relation to the trophic status of estuarine and coastal waters. A copy of the assessment report is available in the Oireachtas Library.