Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 117: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his Department's strategy, including timetables, to ensure that Ireland can fulfil our Water Framework Directive commitment that all water bodies in the State should be of good status by the 2015 deadline, in view of the fact that the status of almost a third of our rivers falls short of this. [30888/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

To date, all implementation deadlines set by the Water Framework Directive have been achieved on time by Ireland. In fact, by any objective standard, there has been remarkable progress over the lifetime of this Government in relation to the protection and improvement of water quality. This includes:

an increase in waste water treatment capacity since 2000 equivalent to the needs of a populations of 3.1 million;

an increase from 20% to 90% between 1997 and 2005 in the level of compliance with the relevant EU Directive on waste water treatment;

an increase from 67% to 70% in the length of unpolluted river channel between 1997 and 2003: this represents a reversal of a downward decline that had persisted for decades;

more Blue Flag beaches than ever: in 2006, 81 Blue Flags were awarded to Irish bathing areas: this is the highest number ever, and compares with 70 in 1997; and

the rapid progress being made in the elimination of substandard drinking water supplies in the group scheme sector.

The achievement of improvements in water quality will continue to be supported by ongoing investment under the Water Services Investment Programme and by implementation of the Nitrates Action Programme.

My Department provides 100% funding for river basin management projects to support implementation of the Water Framework Directive and has committed over €68 million for this purpose. INTERREG funding is also available in relation to cross-border projects. The river basin management plans which are being developed, for adoption by 2009, will set out the specific environmental objectives to be achieved together with a programme of measures to deliver those objectives by the deadline of 2015. I am satisfied with the progress made so far in implementing the Directive and I expect that we will continue to see significant improvements in the quality of our fresh and coastal water resources, which will be reflected in EPA Water Quality Reports over the coming years.