Ulick Burke (Fine Gael)

I wish to raise the urgent need for the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to approve the preliminary report for Galway County Council on the provision of a sewage treatment system at Kinvara, County Galway, and provide funding to prevent the ongoing discharge of untreated sewage into the coastal bay at a rate of 50,000 gallons per day in an important tourist area.

As a result of the publication of the recent EPA report, which outlined the serious situation where a quarter of the sewage in the country was being released untreated into rivers, bays and estuaries, if we are to comply with EU directives we will have to change our ways. Kinvara, County Galway, is one of the few coastal towns which discharges raw sewage at the rate of 50,000 per day. That discharge is increasing at the rate of 10% per annum. We cannot allow this to continue. The preliminary report has been sent by Galway County Council to the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and is with the Department for some time. I seek the immediate approval of this preliminary report and the provision of funding for the service. Cairde Cuan Kinvara has undertaken, at its own expense, an in-depth report on the quality of water in the bay. Due to the uniqueness of the bay there is a high volume of underground river fresh water entering the bay at the southern end.

Due to the narrowness and length of the bay, which is approximately three miles long, great difficulty arises because of salt sea water mixing with the fresh water coming into the bay on the quay side, with the result that there is stagnant sewage in the inner bay at Kinvara. Not only is there obvious discolouring of the water, but its content and quality is seriously affected. The presence of e.coli has been monitored by the Western Health Board and the county council. All the agencies involved have found it to be seriously above not only national limits, but also European guidelines. The situation will become very serious if this is allowed to continue, especially as it is the Minister's goal to adhere to European directives in regard to the quality of water. It is also a serious and current topic given that the Water Services Bill 2003 came before the House some weeks ago.

I ask that the Minister provide funding specifically for this project. As this issue is so far back on the county council priority list in regard to preparation, design and preliminary reports, it might otherwise be many years before it could be addressed. I emphasise that one of the best blue flag beaches in County Galway is next to Kinvara at Trácht. If prevailing winds did not take the currents away from the area, that wonderful beach would be seriously polluted.

I ask that the Minister make this issue a priority, approve it and allocate the necessary funding to Galway County Council. Kinvara is probably the only coastal town in the country in this condition. As far back as 19 November 1997, after I first entered the other House, I asked the then Minister to provide funding but he did not have the preliminary report with which he could advance it. This was subsequently provided. Through the initiatives of local people, in conjunction with the county council, a unique plan has been prepared for a very sensitive town — sensitive in so far as it was the first town plan drawn up with co-operation between a local community and the advance planners of the county council. A wonderful plan has been prepared and is in place for the improvement and development of Kinvara. At the same time, that development cannot be allowed to go ahead because 50,000 to 60,000 gallons of untreated sewage goes into the bay each day.

Kinvara is adjacent to and has always been an important shellfish area. However, oysters are long gone and although mussels are present, out of 37 water samples taken, 35 were seriously polluted, one was acceptable and one reasonably polluted. Kinvara is also a very important tourist area. Despite these factors, a quarter of the total amount of local sewage is released untreated by the local authority into the waterways. I ask the Minister, Deputy Coughlan, to convey to the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the absolute urgency of a response in regard to this issue, which has been called for time and again and should be made before the issue is highlighted in a more serious way.

The water quality has been condemned; it cannot be used for drinking or even for recreational purposes and has been clearly shown to be unacceptable by European standards. The smell and appearance of the water is totally unacceptable and it would be a disgrace if this situation was allowed to continue, especially at this time when we are trying to achieve our European goals by responding to EU directives.