Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 111: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the problem regarding green algae on beaches from the Old Head of Kinsale to Rosscarbery in County Cork; if he will ensure that the necessary funding is provided and schemes approved for the provision of sewerage treatment plants in Courtmacsherry and Timoleague and the upgrading of facilities in Clonakilty and Rosscarbery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35764/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I am glad to see Deputy Jim O'Keeffe here because I know this part of the country well.

Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I am delighted.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I am aware that there have been recurrent problems with green algae on a number of beaches in County Cork. Various factors can contribute to the formation of green algae, which is due to excessive nutrients entering water, including from run-off from land due to intensive agricultural practices, septic tanks or discharges of untreated wastewater.

The draft south-western river basin management plan identifies the full range of water quality issues in the area covered by the plan, including Cork county and city, and sets out how it is proposed to manage the rivers, lakes, groundwaters and coastal waters covered by the plan to ensure their protection. The plan, being finalised by the relevant local authorities, will contain a programme of measures to address these challenges, including the identification of any necessary waste water infrastructure.

In addition, my colleague the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has established a task force representative of a number of stakeholders, including my Department, to advise him and Cork County Council on various aspects of the green algae at Coolmaine, Harbour View, Inchydoney and Ring beaches.

Proposals to upgrade and improve the wastewater infrastructure at Clonakilty, Courtmacsherry, Rosscarbery and Timoleague are currently at various stages of planning under my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007–09. Local authorities have been asked to submit an assessment of needs for water and sewerage services to my Department by the end of next week as a key input to the development of the 2010 to 2012 water services investment programme. In conducting their assessments, local authorities have been asked to prioritise schemes and contracts for progression over the coming years based on key environmental and economic criteria.

Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

It is appropriate that we have a Green Party Minister to deal with green algae in west Cork. The problem is that he is not dealing with it and that is my difficulty. I am very glad I do not have to tell him about Coolmaine and Inchydoney beaches because he knows them. However, if had visited them in the past year or two he would hardly have recognised them because of the problems there. I want to press him very strongly on this issue because serious public health issues are raised and much damage is being caused to the environment.

The tourism industry is also being badly damaged. Last weekend, people booked out of hotels in Clonakilty and the Minister knows the effort that town makes in the Tidy Towns and Entente Florale competitions. It is a disgrace that these issues have not been dealt with at official level. Apart from all of this, there is the matter of community use. My kids used to go to Coolmaine beach and I used to go swimming there with them. One can no longer go to Coolmaine beach during most of the summer. The local people are affected.

I want to press the Minister on two issues. The first is the management plan on the green algae, or "sea lettuce" as it is called. I understand expert groups are meeting and a major meeting is taking place today, whether by coincidence or otherwise. The second issue is to stop this occurring. There is no doubt that the lack of a treatment plant in Courtmacsherry, which has been on the cards for past six years, and the need to upgrade the Clonakilty and Rosscarbery facilities play a part. These issues are directly under the control of the Minister and they have been delayed repeatedly.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I know the area as I used to holiday in Timoleague and I know this problem has existed for years. When I was on holidays there more than ten years ago I could see the algae on the beach. If one went down to Dunworley one could see the green algae there and it was very clear. This is coming from run-off nutrients from farming practices and septic tanks. We must deal first with the point sources. While the Department allocates the moneys for the water services investment programme, the local authority is responsible for the schemes. It is unfair for Deputy Jim O'Keeffe to claim I am responsible for all these local authorities and must make them do their work. I cannot do that. I can, however, give the Deputy some idea of where the various projects stand.

The three schemes in question amount to an investment of €122 million. Cork County Council is preparing the contract documents for the Clonakilty water and sewerage scheme with a view to seeking tenders next year. My Department is assessing the additional information on the Courtmacsherry and Timoleague water and sewerage scheme which was just received from Cork County Council to determine whether to approve the council's revised preliminary reports for it. The report sets out the scale, scope and costs of the scheme. In April I met with a delegation from the area about the scheme. The meeting's focus was on the affordability of the scheme as a substantial element of it falls to be funded by the council under the water pricing policy.

I am more than happy to give the Deputy more information on the Rosscarbery and Owenahincha scheme.

Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I would be pleased to receive that extra information. Regarding the treatment plant in Courtmacsherry, I am not blaming the Minister for the delay as he has only been in office for two years and this has been going on for years. I would have thought, however, that he would have pushed it to a conclusion. All that happens is that a scheme's proposals are sent back and forth to the Department with added proposals for six months at a time.

The Minister referred to revised proposals just received by his Department regarding the Courtmacsherry-Timoleague scheme. Last May I received a reply to a parliamentary question that the Department was examining a revised preliminary report for the same scheme. This was supposed to be included in the 2007 to 2009 investment programme. There is no way it will be built now before the end of the year. Will the Minister give an absolute commitment that he will give priority, as far as he can and in so far as his Department is concerned, to clear this problem?

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Yes, I will. While the Deputy is concerned about this, there are members of the Cabinet who go on holidays to the spots in question.

Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Cabinet should know Inchydoney.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

They also want this matter cleared up. I have been aware of this problem for some time.

Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

One could not invite them down there any more.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

There is no getting away from the fact that it must be dealt with at point source. We have some work to do in this country not to be in denial about the problems associated with agricultural run-off and septic tanks. There are too many parties which do not want to know about these problems because they are difficult issues with which to deal. Building water treatment plants is fine but we must go beyond that in examining the cause of the problem.

Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

We could have a new REP scheme for the farmers.

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I am pleased the Minister said he will clean the greens out of the water.

I have been informed by Fingal County Council that it takes ten years to deliver a water treatment plant. How can the Minister stand over this unacceptably slow delivery of plants nationwide? In north County Dublin-----

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Is this related to Deputy Jim O'Keeffe's question?

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

This is related to the Courtmacsherry question but it is a generalisation-----

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I am sure it is and I am waiting to hear how.

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Will the Leas-Cheann Comhairle give me a little latitude? The people of Swords, Donabate, Rush and Lusk-----

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Deputy Reilly, please.

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Our beaches have lost their blue flags.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I am sure Deputy Reilly knows how to put down a parliamentary question.

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I have been told by health experts that if 10,000 people visit a north Dublin beach on a summer weekend, which is easily the case at Skerries, Donabate-----

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Please, Deputy, you are being unfair to your colleagues in trying to muscle in on their questions.

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

-----then 1,000 of them could fall ill if the water were contaminated.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

That is worthy of its own question.

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Water quality is dropping. What steps will the Minister take to address it?

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

We will move on to Question No. 112.

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Is it not reasonable to ask what the Minister will do to address this deficiency in our local authorities? He is the Minister responsible for the environment.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

That is entirely beyond the scope of this question. The Deputy knows that and he is capable of drafting a question about north Dublin.

Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I have no problem, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, if Deputy Reilly wants to ask a question after the west Cork plants.