Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 250: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the measures he is taking to complete a nationwide groundwater study to provide a baseline for the implementation of the nitrates directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13886/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Responsibility for monitoring water quality is assigned primarily to local authorities and to the Environmental Protection Agency. Local authorities have been monitoring groundwaters and surface waters in the context of the nitrates directive since 1992. The level of nitrates is also a parameter which is monitored by local authorities in the context of their monitoring of drinking water supplies.

The Environmental Protection Agency commenced its national groundwater quality monitoring programme in 1995 and is at present, in the context of the implementation of the EU water framework directive, co-ordinating a review of all water quality monitoring programmes. For this purpose, the agency is required under the European Communities (Water Policy) Regulations 2003 to prepare a monitoring programme by June 2006 which will cover all waters and will include the chemical and quantitative status of groundwaters. Comprehensive information in regard to water quality is contained in the series of reports, Water Quality in Ireland, issued by the EPA, copies of which are available in the Oireachtas Library.