Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 7 Feb 2002

Vol. 548 No. 1

Written Answers. - Water Quality.

Enda Kenny

Ceist:

111 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the nitrate levels as determined by studies carried out by the Environmental Protection Agency in rivers in County Mayo; his Department's proposals to improve the stated targeted objectives in this area; his proposals for the future to reduce nitrate levels in western rivers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3960/02]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment and Local Government (Mr. D. Wallace):

I refer to the replies to Question No. 734 of 30 January 2002 and Questions Nos. 263 and 275 of 5 February 2002.

The most recent comprehensive data available on water quality, including the western rivers, are contained in the report, Water Quality in Ireland 1998-2000, published by the Environmental Protection Agency on 24 January 2002. I understand that a copy of the report will be placed in the Oireachtas Library very shortly. The report includes information in relation to the results of monitoring for a wide range of substances, including nitrates, in waters.

In addition to the measures already in place for protection and improvement of water quality, my Department is actively promoting the establish ment by local authorities of comprehensive river basin management projects in relation to all waters, that is, rivers, lakes, canals, estuaries, coastal waters and groundwater for the purpose of giving effect to the EU Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC). That directive requires that a co-ordinated approach be taken to water management in respect of whole river basins with a view to achieving "good status" in relation to all waters by 2015. Approval in principle has been given for river basin management projects in the Shannon, east, south-east and western regions. Financial support at a rate of 100% will be provided by my Department in relation to expenditure incurred by local authorities in the course of such projects.

The western region river basin management project is led by Galway County Council on behalf of the seven participating local authorities, namely, the county councils of Clare, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Roscommon and Sligo together with Galway City Council.