Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 594: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the instructions as have been given by his Department for the implementation of European directives in relation to waste water and clean drinking water; and the measures he has taken with Galway City Council and Galway County Council in this regard. [14053/07]

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 595: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his proposals for upgrading the sewage systems in County Galway. [14054/07]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 594 and 595 together.

Ireland's obligations under the EU Urban Waste Water and Drinking Water Directives have been transposed into national law in a series of regulations made under the European Communities Act, 1972, and the Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1992. The statutory requirements in relation to monitoring and operational standards have been communicated by my Department to the local authorities, including Galway City and County Councils, who are responsible for the management of public their water supply and waste water infrastructure. Authorities have received separate detailed guidance from my Department, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Health Protection Surveillance Centre in relation to the management and avoidance of the risk of cryptosporidium in water supplies.

Details of approved sewerage schemes in Galway are set out in the Water Services Investment Programme 2005 – 2007 which is available in the Oireachtas Library. The sewerage schemes 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 water and sewerage needs. The priorities adopted by the Members of the Galway local authorities in their most recent assessments will be taken into account in the framing of the next phase of the Water Services Investment Programme.