Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 281: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if the report on Guidelines for Local Authorities on Minimising the Risk of Cryptosporidium in Water Supplies dating from 1998 is generally available; if it has been updated; if it is based on current standard European Union standards; if reports on its implementation have been regularly transmitted to his Department from local authorities; and if, in view of the situation which Galway faces he will provide an urgent reply. [13241/07]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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In 1998, my Department circulated detailed guidelines to local authorities on minimising the risk of cryptosporidium in water supplies. The guidelines were prepared in consultation with the Department of Health and Children and the Environmental Protection Agency and circulated to local authorities. They provided advice to local authorities on preventing cryptosporidium entering water supply systems and covered all aspects of water supply management, including source protection, monitoring, treatment processes, storage and distribution as well as responding to an outbreak.

In September 2004, the EPA produced a handbook for local authorities on implementation of the Drinking Water Regulations 2000. This updated and elaborated on the Department's earlier guidelines by including a cryptosporidium risk assessment methodology and further guidance on monitoring for cryptosporidium in light of the outcome of individual risk assessments. In November 2004, the National Disease Surveillance Centre (now the Health Protection Surveillance Centre) also published a report on waterborne cryptosporidiosis.

The handbook and report were circulated by the EPA to all local authorities who were requested to prepare risk assessments for each water source and supply, using the updated methodology and are available on the EPA website. Almost 400 such risk assessments were carried out and transmitted to the EPA.

The above guidance documents set out best practice in relation to the management of cryptosporidium. EU requirements in relation to the monitoring of drinking water for clostridium perfringens – an indicator of possible cryptosporidium contamination – are set out in the EU Drinking Water Directive 98/83/EC of 3 November 1998, which was given effect in Irish law by the European Communities (Drinking Water) Regulations, 2000. These Regulations were replaced and updated by the European Communities (Drinking Water) Regulations, 2007 that I brought into force on 8 March last. The 2007 Regulations give the Environmental Protection Agency additional supervisory and enforcement powers in relation to monitoring and standards of all water supplies. The Agency now has powers to ensure that any failure to comply with quality standards is immediately investigated and that an appropriate remedial action plan is put in place and implemented.

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 282: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when his Department informed Galway City Council of the availability of €21.5 million to upgrade the Terryland filtration system; if his Department initiated inspections of the filtration systems of water treatment plants; if it sought to put pressure on local authorities to use the funding made available to them; the most recent review that exists in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13242/07]

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 284: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will, as an emergency measure, sanction additional sources as are necessary, together with the release of funds as may alleviate the crisis in relation to its water supply facing Galway city and county, facilitate short-term measures and enable the major capital works to be fast tracked; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13244/07]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 282 and 284 together.

The Galway City Water Supply Scheme was included in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2002 – 2004, published on 16 April 2002, as a scheme to advance through planning. The scheme has retained its approved status in subsequent iterations of the Programme. These were published on 13 August 2003, 7 May 2004 and 16 December 2005. My Department is awaiting the submission of a Brief by the City Council for the appointment of consultantsto prepare a Preliminary Report for thescheme.

I visited Galway last Friday to meet the local authorities and the Health Services Executive and to assist in promoting the earliest possible solution to the current difficulties. As a result, a range of short, medium and longer term measures have been agreed with a view to satisfactory drinking water supplies being restored as soon as possible. It was agreed that the two local authorities would work to reduce the impact on householders arising from the current problems. I have also offered Government logistical assistance to the Council if this is required.

In particular, these measures include an increased supply from the Tuam Regional Scheme which will allow the old Terryland plant to be decommissioned; the installation of an interim package treatment plant and the completion of the substantive upgrading project in Terryland. Appropriate resources, including over €48m in capital funding, have been pledged for this purpose.

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 283: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the frequency, dates, results and responses to such information as was provided to his Department by Galway City Council and Galway County Council in view of the fact that it is a legal requirement that water be regularly tested; the dates and the section of his Department to which this information was transmitted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13243/07]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Management of their public drinking water supplies is the responsibility of the relevant local authority. The results of monitoring of individual water supplies are forwarded by local authorities to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on being required to do so by the Agency under section 58 of the Environmental Protection Act 1992. Information on the quality of drinking water supplies is included in a report prepared annually by the EPA. The latest relevant EPA report The Quality of Drinking Water in Ireland — A Report for the Year 2005 is available in the Oireachtas Library.