John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)

I refer to my earlier reply and discussion on Priority Question No. 1.

The EPA water quality report for 2004-2006 found that ground water is the only aquatic system showing a trend of decline in water quality and this is a major cause of concern. Implementation of the nitrates directive is one of the key measures to address the deterioration of ground water quality. The nitrates directive was given legal effect by the European communities (good agricultural practice for the protection of waters) regulations 2006 and 2007. These regulations provide a firm basis for the reduction of both nitrate and phosphate losses from farm land.

Work is under way in my Department on the drafting of regulations to transpose the EU directive on the protection of ground water against pollution and deterioration. The directive sets out criteria and procedures for assessing ground water chemical status and establishes quality standards for ground water.

As part of the ongoing implementation of the water framework directive, a new ground water monitoring programme has been developed by my Department, the EPA and the local authorities to improve knowledge of ground water quality. All ground water bodies will be assessed and classified by the EPA. Once classification has taken place, the relevant authorities must set objectives for ground water bodies which will prevent deterioration, reverse trends of increasing pollution, and restore ground water bodies to good status where necessary. In addition, the first draft river basin management plans will be published next month and the public will be given an opportunity to comment on these plans during the first six months of next year. These plans will include programmes of measures to achieve the objectives of the directive.

Ground water is an important natural resource and I am committed to its protection and improvement. I secured a greatly increased budget of €560 million in 2009 for my Department's water services investment programme. This is the highest provision ever and is a clear statement of the Government's commitment to improve water quality.

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