The European Commission issued a letter of formal notice to the Irish Government on the 7 February 2024. The Commission considers that Ireland has failed to fully comply with the obligations set out in the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (Directive 91/271/EEC) in 11 urban areas.
Having consulted with the Attorney General’s Office, my Department responded to the Commission on the 5 April 2024. Ireland refutes the Commission’s allegations and while the letter of formal notice and Ireland’s response to the Commission are confidential because of the legal proceedings, I can say that the information the Commission refers to in the letter of formal notice relates to the year 2020. My Department has included more up to date information in the response to the letter of formal notice.
I can also say that compliance has been demonstrated at four of these listed agglomerations (namely Ringaskiddy, Cobh, Clareabbey and Mitchelstown); and works have also been completed at two other listed agglomerations (namely Kilmore Quay and Kilrush). While Ireland also refutes the Commission’s allegations in relation to the remaining 5 agglomerations these are either subject to ongoing assessment or have projects underway and are at various stages of completion.
My Department is working closely with Uisce Éireann to ensure the delivery of the necessary infrastructure improvements in the shortest practicable timeframe possible.
Information relating to compliance of specific areas with the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive is available on the EPA website, www.epa.ie, and in the EPA Report on Urban Wastewater in Ireland which is published annually. The most recent report relates to the year 2022, and is available at www.epa.ie.
Uisce Éireann continues to develop and implement a long-term investment perspective in order to strategically address the deficiencies in the public water and waste water system. Building water and waste water treatment plants, as well as upgrading or building new water and waste water networks, requires significant and sustained investment.
As part of Budget 2024, I secured funding of €1.8 billion to support water services and €1.66 billion of this will go to Uisce Éireann. This investment will deliver significant improvements in public wastewater services and will improve water quality in rivers, lakes and marine areas.
