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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 7 Mar 2002

Vol. 550 No. 2

Written Answers. - Water Quality.

Gerry Reynolds

Ceist:

400 Mr. G. Reynolds asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the extent to which his Department has provided incentives with the objective of eliminating pollution of waterways; the number of prosecutions taken by his Department in each year from 1997 to 2001; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8017/02]

I refer to the reply to Question No. 159 of 28 February 2002 which outlines investment and other initiatives by my Department with the objective of eliminating pollution of waterways.

Local authorities, as statutory pollution control authorities, have a key role in protecting water resources and avail of an extensive range of powers to give effect to their responsibilities in this area. While my Department does not initiative prosecutions in relation to water pollution control, the following is a summary of relevant enforcement activity by local authorities, under the Local Government (Water Pollution) Acts, 1977 and 1990, in 1999 which is the most recent year for which this information is available to my Department:

Some 4,227 cases were investigated as to entry of polluting matter to waters and 3,236 advice or warnings issued: the corresponding figures for 1998 were 3,975 and 3,448 respectively. Some 1,681 cases were investigated as to discharges of trade and sewage effluent discharges to waters and 681 advice or warnings issued: the corresponding figures for 1998 were 1,088 and 301 respectively. Some 493 cases were investigated as to discharges to sewers without a licence or breaches of conditions of a licence and 314 advice or warnings issued: the corresponding figures for 1998 were 1,498 investigations and 988 advice or warnings. Some 1,131 section 12 notices were issued in 1999, including 1,072 in respect of agricultural activities: this compares with 1,313 notices issued in 1998, of which 1,193 related to agriculture. These notices require measures to be taken to prevent or deal with water pollution.
Measures were taken directly by local authorities in 74 instances to protect water quality or to remedy the effects of pollution. Some 47 prosecutions were taken and 24 convictions were recorded in 1999: this compares with 49 prosecutions taken and 27 convictions in 1998. Information in respect of prosecutions taken by local authorities for the years requested, in so far as it is available in my Department, is set out in the following tabular statement. More detailed information on local authority water pollution control activities is also available in my Department's quarterly environment bulletin which is available in the Oireachtas Library.
Statistics on water pollution control activities by local authorities for the years 2000 and 2001 are not yet available in my Department.
Water Pollution Prosecutions Initiated by Local Authorities in 1997 under the Local Government Water Pollution Acts, 1977 and 1990

Prosecutions Taken

Convictions

Section 3:

General Offence of causing water pollution

2,219

Section 4:

Discharging trade effluent to water without, or in contravention of, a licence

74

Section 12:

Failing to take measures to prevent water pollution

2,012

Section 14:

Failing to report causing a water pollution incident

11

Section 16:

Discharging trade effluent to a sewer without, or in contravention of, a licence

66

Totals

5,642

Water Pollution Prosecutions Initiated by Local Authorities in 1998 under the Local Government Water Pollution Acts, 1977 and 1990

Prosecutions Taken

Convictions

Section 3:

General Offence of causing water pollution

137

Section 4:

Discharging trade effluent to water without, or in contravention of, a licence

63

Section 12:

Failing to take measures to prevent water pollution

2,315

Section 14:

Failing to report causing a water pollution incident

32

Section 16:

Discharging trade effluent to a sewer without, or in contravention of, a licence

40

Totals

4,927

Water Pollution Prosecutions Initiated by Local Authorities in 1999 under the Local Government Water Pollution Acts, 1977 and 1990

Prosecutions Taken

Convictions

Section 3:

General Offence of causing water pollution

127

Section 4:

Discharging trade effluent to water without, or in contravention of, a licence

31

Section 12:

Failing to take measures to prevent water pollution

2,410

Section 14:

Failing to report causing a water pollution incident

43

Section 16:

Discharging trade effluent to a sewer without, or in contravention of, a licence

43

Totals

4,724

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