Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)

I may continue a bit further then.

I wish to address some of the issues raised by Senators. I have dealt with the issues raised by Senator Reilly. Senator Kelly referred to agricultural pollution. I acknowledge there have been problems and that the attempts to deal with them in County Cavan have been extraordinarily successful, as has been the general response of the agricultural community. Senator Kelly also stressed the need for monitoring of supplies and this is gradually happening much more. Monitoring of the public schemes which are in the ownership of county councils is the responsibility of the EPA but monitoring of the group schemes is the responsibility of the county councils, with an oversight role for the EPA. As the monitoring is extended in frequency and spread, it is inevitable that other issues such as those outlined by Senator Healy Eames and others, will inevitably come to light. I have no doubt the Department will be able to deal with those issues and we will endeavour to face up to them.

Senator Kelly also referred to source protection and this is an issue which we need to address. Senator Boyle referred to the ongoing Ennis water supply issue and sadly, I am very familiar with the situation. The interim solution has been somewhat successful but the long-term solution is what is needed. He also mentioned the need for testing of single-house wells. For the moment, all the emphasis has been on the public supplies and on the group water schemes for more than 50 houses, as required under the directive. Fortunately, a substantial proportion of the other smaller group water schemes receive their water from the public supply and this is gradually being addressed in positive terms. However, quite a few small schemes consist of two or three houses connected to the one well or in the case referred to by Senator Boyle, one house. People in that situation are free to have their own water tested and many have done so. We would encourage people to take this action because it is only when one is aware of a problem that one can do something about it.

Despite quite negative findings relating to water quality, there are some strong positive indicators with regard to single rural wells. One suspects that improved agricultural practice may have resulted in wells being considerably more useable than had been the case heretofore.

Senator Cecilia Keaveney mentioned some issues that were of importance in her own locality, some of which I may have dealt with in that regard. The public supplies were a matter of some concern to her. At present, the most recent results indicate a compliance rate of almost 99%. However, some issues are still outstanding. Ultimately, as a number of Members noted, we will become aware of the difficulties through ongoing risk assessment and a fairly rigorous application of the monitoring process. This is of enormous importance because one only can begin to address such difficulties when one is aware of them. However, the record of the Department and the local authorities in addressing schemes has been extraordinarily good in a relatively short period. Ancillary issues arise in respect of source protection that, ultimately, are the fundamental issues to be addressed, if we are to do so successfully.

Senator Keaveney also raised a query regarding the prosecution of local authorities. Such a provision exists under the regulations introduced this year and the EPA is the body that is charged with that responsibility.