Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 101: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the action he will take to improve further surface water quality and reduce eutrophication of rivers, lakes, and tidal waters in view of the fact that gains in water quality made in the late 1990s have not been sustained; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30440/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The main conclusion of the recently published EPA report, Water Quality in Ireland 2001-2003, is that the overall condition of Irish waters remains satisfactory and compares favourably with the position in other European countries.

One important factor has been the dramatic improvement in the area of waste water discharges into fresh or estuarine waters since the mid-1990s. In 1997 when the previous Government took office, fewer than 20% of discharges met EU requirements. This has by 2005 risen to 90%, reflecting massive investment by my Department in waste water treatment plants —€1.7 billion in the four-year period to 2004 alone. The benefits of this waste water investment programme are now visible. This year Dublin became one of a very small handful of European capitals to have a blue flag beach in their metropolitan area. Again this summer, the River Lee was sufficiently clean for the Lee swim to be held again in the heart of Cork city for the first time in more than 50 years.

While I welcome the positive improvements noted in the report, we cannot be complacent. The report highlights areas where further work is needed, such as combating the risk posed to our rivers and lakes by nutrient enrichment. To meet the challenges raised in the report, we must tackle pollution from all sources, agricultural, municipal or industrial.

A wide range of measures are being progressed to secure further improvements in water quality. A revised nitrates action programme was finalised in July for the purpose of strengthening the application of good farming practice for protection of waters. I have subsequently issued for public consultation the text of draft regulations to give legal effect to the nitrates action programme and I intend to make the regulations by the end of November following consideration of comments received. The nitrates action programme will come into effect on a phased basis from 1 January 2006.

Ireland has, to date, met all implementation deadlines under the water framework directive which aims to prevent any deterioration of waters and to achieve at least good status for all waters. A programme of measures is being developed for each river basin district for this purpose. I am confident that all these measures will bring about sustained improvements in our water quality over the coming years.