Ivor Callely (Fianna Fail)

-----but, in fairness to all involved, much work has been undertaken over the last number of years to get us to our current position.

The current information available on the state of water quality in our rivers, lakes, estuaries, coastal waters, bathing waters, ground water, drinking water, urban waste water treatment and our river basin management appears to be good. The new holistic approach to managing our water and our aim to achieve good water status in all our waters by 2015 and, of course, to ensure that our status does not deteriorate in any way are admirable. As a result, Ireland has been divided into a number of river basin districts, with a draft management plan prepared and a road map to show how our natural waters will be protected and restored. This begs a huge amount of questions relating to the protection of the river basin districts and the impact that certain development, be it a simple development or a massive infrastructural project, has on the protection of our water plains, as they are sometimes called, or our river basin districts, as they are referred to in some documents I have read. Whether they are called water plains or river basin districts, who is responsible for ensuring there is no pollution of or interference with these waters? I figure there is nobody in the local authority sector or in the EPA and I am not sure what role the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government plays in this regard. This is solely with regard to development.

That said, when one looks at what is taking place with regard to the water framework directive and what is happening in local authorities, one must admit that a great deal of very good work is being done. However, there are inconsistencies. If we are so committed on this issue, why have we not commenced the relevant sections - I believe they are sections 36, 37 and 38 - of the Water Services Act? These sections require local authorities to set out their strategic plans for water provision based on assessment of need. Those sections were due to be commenced some months ago but have not yet been commenced by the Minister, Deputy Gormley. The Minister referred to the water services investment programme which is to be announced shortly. I look forward to the action he will take in this regard. I understand from conversations with members of my local authority that there is interaction between the Department and the local authority with regard to the assessment of need and so forth.

I wish to focus on the question of public health. In the Dublin City Council catchment the council supplies approximately 540 million litres of drinking water to approximately 1.4 million citizens through a network of service reservoirs and pipe infrastructure. The service network is in urgent need of upgrading to address quality and leakage and to ensure the highest standard of water for consumption.

How much time do I have left?