Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 576: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if the recommendations as set out in the final report of Three Rivers Project have been implemented; the status of the recommendations; if recommendations 6D and 6E covering the urban waste water treatment regulations have been implemented in full; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3598/07]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Three Rivers Project was a catchment-based project in 1998-2002 to develop water quality monitoring and management systems for the Boyne, Liffey and Suir Rivers. The project was led, respectively in relation to each catchment, by Meath County Council, Kildare County Council and Carlow County Council. The work of the project, including the implementation of the recommendations, is being brought forward by the current River Basin District Projects and otherwise in the context of the implementation of the Water Framework Directive, 2000. These River Basin District projects are led by local authorities and funded by my Department. The Liffey and the Boyne catchments lie within the Eastern River Basin District and the Suir catchment lies within the South-Eastern River Basin District.

With particular reference to recommendations 6D and 6E of the final report from the Three Rivers Project, my Department is currently developing regulations, to provide for the licensing of local authority urban waste-water discharges. The licensing controls in relation to these discharges and all other licensed discharges will operate to ensure compliance with established environmental quality standards.