Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 145: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the extent to which he has received information from the various local authorities throughout the country indicating a serious threat of pollution to rivers, streams and waterways from overloaded or defunct sewage treatment plants; when he first became aware of such problems; if the local authorities in question have sought funding or approval for the relevant waste water schemes to proceed; if he has responded positively in each and every case having particular regard to the need to avert any threat of pollution through the provision of modern and efficient treatment systems and avoid EU pollution penalties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7481/07]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 534: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of requests from the various local authorities on a county basis for capital funding for the provision of new or the upgrading or extension of existing sewerage treatment works in each of the past five years; if he operates a waiting list in respect of such applications; if he or his Department have drawn up a list of priorities in this regard; if any of the applications he received from Kildare County Council or the other local authorities in the county have to date been prioritised or are expected to in the near future; the reason for the delay in meeting these requirements in view of the imminent threat of pollution to the River Liffey and its tributaries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7948/07]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 573: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of applications from the various local authorities for the augmentation, improvement or upgrading of sewerage treatment plants or the provision of new treatment plants on a county basis throughout the country; the length of time such projects have been awaiting his approval; when approval will issue and the relevant works will commence with a view to alleviating pollution of lakes, rivers and waterways in line with urgent requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7737/07]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 145, 534 and 573 together.

Details of approved wastewater schemes are set out in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2005-2007 which is available in the Oireachtas Library. The schemes included in the Programme are derived mainly from regular assessments of needs undertaken by local authorities, at my Department's request, as an input to the overall strategy for meeting wastewater collection and treatment requirements. The Programme also includes schemes that will provide new or improved infrastructure to resolve all incidences of point source pollution from municipal wastewater discharges identified in the Environmental Protection Agency's report "Water Quality in Ireland 2001 — 2003", published in 2005.

Subsequently, local authorities were requested by my Department in 2006 to carry out updated assessments of needs to inform future investment priorities under the Water Services Investment Programme. In carrying out the assessments, authorities were asked to take particular account of:

national and EU environmental and public health requirements and standards, including the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive and the Urban Wastewater Treatment Regulations, 2001,

relevant reports produced by the Environmental Protection Agency, including Water Quality in Ireland 2001 — 2003 and Urban Wastewater Discharges in Ireland: A Report for the years 2002/2003

reports and studies such as the National Urban Waste Water Study, County Sludge Management Plans and any other relevant studies/reports commissioned locally,

the provisions of their Development Plans or any draft Development Plans and any strategic regional planning guidelines or local area plans,

National Spatial Strategy objectives,

the adequacy of existing collection networks and, in the case of anticipated development, the adequacy of the capacity of existing treatment plants,

the need for continued support for social and economic activity and development,

the need to address infrastructural deficits in small rural towns, and

River Basin District Management Projects and Characterisation Reports completed in 2005 under the Water Framework Directive.

The priorities adopted by the elected members of the various local authorities in their 2006 needs assessments will inform project selection under the next phase of the Water Services Investment Programme.