John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)

Achieving and maintaining high quality bathing water at designated bathing water sites is a priority for my Department, the Environmental Protection Agency and the relevant local authorities, given the important role that our beaches play in attracting tourists and providing recreational opportunities for local people in a safe and clean environment.

The EPA's report on the quality of bathing water in Ireland 2008 noted that the overall quality of bathing water remains high. In areas where bathing waters fail to meet the EU mandatory standards, the EPA actively follows up on these cases and takes the necessary enforcement actions.

The quality of bathing waters at designated bathing water sites is directly affected by the quality of waters flowing into them. I have taken a number of steps to address discharges from municipal and agricultural sources, the two main contributors to water quality problems. In 2007, I introduced the Waste Water Discharge (Authorisation) Regulations which require local authorities to obtain discharge licences from the EPA for wastewater treatment plants. These licences impose emission limits on the discharges, compliance with which is overseen by the EPA. In addition, in March 2009, I revised the nitrates regulations in order to provide for better farmyard management and to strengthen the enforcement provisions of the regulations.

Since 2000, a total of €2.5 billion has been invested in wastewater treatment and collection systems under my Department's water services investment programme. Many of the new schemes provided were in coastal locations and had a direct, positive benefit on water quality in these areas. The Government commitment to the ongoing improvement of water quality is evidenced in the €500 million allocated to the water services investment programme this year. The programme will fund works at a number of the sites where blue flags have been lost. Work is also well advanced on the development of river basin management plans.

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