Proinsias De Rossa
Ceist:111 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the steps which are being taken to improve the quality of water at bathing places; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19711/01]
Written Answers. - Water Quality.
Austin Deasy
Ceist:333 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if, in consultation with the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources, he will make the provision of sewage treatment plants at premier seaside tourist resorts a matter of top priority. [16289/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 111 and 333 together.
The report of the European Commission on the quality of bathing water for the 2000 bathing season, a copy of which is in the Oireachtas Library, confirms that Irish bathing waters are among the best in Europe in terms of water quality. This report indicates that 98.3% of Irish coastal bathing areas comply with the mandatory EU values and 91.7% comply with the stricter guide values. Local authorities are required to take the necessary measures to ensure compliance with the standards prescribed in relation to designated bathing waters by the Quality of Bathing Waters Regulations, 1992.
The provision of sewage treatment plants at various locations, including seaside tourist resorts, is a matter for each individual local authority in the first instance. In this regard authorities are required to prepare an assessment of needs every five years. The main purpose of the assessments is to develop an overall strategic investment plan for the area concerned for the medium to long-term and to set out a programme of works to meet the identified water services needs. The most recent assessments, completed by authorities in 1999, were adopted as the main basis for the inclusion of schemes in the Water Services Investment Programme 2000-2002, which was announced in July 2000 and provides for investment of £2.1 billion in water and sewerage services. The investment programme for 2000-2002 is the first phase of a rolling three-year programme that will continue up to the end of the NDP in 2006. Further waste water schemes will be approved in the next phase of the programme which will roll it forward to 2003.
Under the National Development Plan 2000-2006 almost £3 billion will be spent on water and sewerage services, three times the out-turn under the previous NDP. Over £1.1 billion of this is being allocated to wastewater measures. Not only will this underpin this Government's continuing commitment to strengthening our infrastructure and facilitating economic development, but it will also protect our natural resources and assist compliance with relevant legislation and EU directives. This massive investment is designed to build on the success already achieved in relation to the quality of bathing waters.
Funding for urban wastewater infrastructure under the water services investment programme is focused on meeting the requirements of the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive. This requires treatment of all wastewater discharges from systems with a population equivalent of more than 2000 by the end of 2005. Of the 37 agglomerations without treatment referred to in the most recent EPA report on urban waste water discharges in Ireland, a copy of which is in the Oireachtas Library, the current water services investment programme includes schemes to provide secondary treatment, or better, in 31 of those locations. These schemes represent almost 99% of the total effluent load. Schemes already in progress or scheduled to start in 2001 and 2002 will meet the treatment requirements for over 97% of the total load.
Major schemes are being completed throughout the country including the Dublin Bay project which is the largest together with Cork, Galway and Limerick main drainage schemes. The Dublin Bay Project will significantly improve bathing water quality in Dublin Bay. Other significant schemes designed to protect our coastal waters being progressed during the current NDP period will provide for upgraded facilities in areas such as Ardmore, Tramore, Westport, Donegal and Sligo.
Additional protection for estuarine and coastal waters will be provided arising from regulations which I recently made to designate 30 additional water bodies as sensitive areas for the purposes of urban wastewater treatment. These designated areas include 15 estuarine waters and will require a higher level of treatment for effluents discharged into those waters from large sewage treatment plants.
Monica Barnes
Ceist:112 Mrs. Barnes asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government his views on whether the waste water treatment plant planned for Dublin Bay is sufficient; if tertiary treatment should be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19796/01]
Following a review of the trophic status of estuarine and coastal waters in Ireland by the Environmental Protection Agency, the Liffey estuary was recently designated as a sensitive water for the purposes of the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive. The design of the Ringsend wastewater treatment works takes account of this status and the findings of the environmental studies carried out prior to and during the design phase of the project. The new works will provide primary, secondary and tertiary treatment of waste water. The tertiary treatment to be provided will consist of the removal of nitrogen from the treated sewage and final disinfection of the wastewater by ultra-violet light, which will eliminate bacteria. All elements of the Dublin Bay Project are now either under construction or at an advanced stage of planning.