Vol. 550 No. 2
392 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government his proposals in relation to the dangers of nitrate pollution in view of the fact that statistics show that 38% of public water supplies were polluted; and his plans to control the use of fertiliser and slurry spreading in nitrate sensitive areas in order to comply with the European directive. [7984/02]
I refer to the replies to Questions Nos. 734 on 30 January 2002, 263 on 5 February 2002, and 30 on 28 February 2002.
The most recent comprehensive data published on the quality of drinking water are contained in the EPA report on The Quality of Drinking Water in Ireland for the year 2000. This report indicates a compliance rate of 99% in drinking water supplies, public and private, in relation to the prescribed standard for nitrates. A copy of the report is available in the Oireachtas Library.
