Detailed information on urban waste water discharges in Ireland is contained in Urban Waste Water Discharges in Ireland — A Report for the Years 2002/2003, produced by the Environmental Protection Agency, which is available in the Oireachtas Library.
Since 2003, many of the agglomerations shown in the EPA publication as having treatment levels below the secondary treatment standard have now reached that standard, including Cork, Limerick and Galway cities. Compliance with the requirements of the EU Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive in relation to secondary treatment of wastewater discharges has risen from 25% at the start of 2000 to 90% at present. All remaining schemes required to achieve full compliance are included in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2005 –2007.