Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 578: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the action he will take to improve water quality nationally and to provide better protection for waters and aquatic ecosystems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19022/07]

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 579: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the action he will take to improve water quality in County Galway and city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19023/07]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 578 and 579 together.

Statutory responsibility for protection and improvement of water quality is assigned primarily to local authorities acting under the general supervision of the EPA.

Measures for the protection and improvement of water quality are being progressed on a systematic basis, particularly within the context of the Water Framework Directive, and I expect that we will see significant improvements in the quality of our fresh and coastal water resources over the coming years. The Water Framework Directive generally provides that there must be no deterioration in the status of any waters and that all waters achieve at least "good status" by 2015. A comprehensive programme of activities is currently underway by my Department, the EPA, local authorities and other relevant bodies for full implementation of the Directive. This is being supported by river basin district projects, led by local authorities, together with a wide range of research and other projects funded under the National Development Plan. My Department has committed 100% funding amounting to some €63 million for most of these activities. INTERREG funding is also being applied in relation to cross-border projects. To date, all implementation deadlines set by the Directive have been achieved on time by Ireland.

In June 2007, an overview report was issued for each River Basin District outlining the significant water management issues that have been identified and the possible measures to be taken. These reports will assist the participation of interested parties in the process of developing, by June 2008, draft River Basin Management Plans which will set out the specific environmental objectives to be achieved during the first 6-year plan period (2009-15) together with the programme of measures which will be required to deliver on these objectives. The River Basin Management Plans will be adopted by June 2009.

The achievement of improvements in water quality is, and will be, significantly supported by the ongoing investment under the Water Services Investment Programme and by implementation of the Nitrates Action Programme, which are key elements within the overall programme of measures under the Water Framework Directive. Some €2 billion has been invested since 2000 on the provision of new and upgraded waste water services under my Department's Water Services Investment Programme. Significant funding is also being provided by my colleague the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries under the Farm Waste Management Scheme to support investment by farmers to meet the requirements of the Nitrates Action Programme. Measures are also being developed to strengthen the protection of water quality against pollution from other sources e.g. discharges from local authority waste water treatment plants, forestry or marine installations.

Insofar as the question may relate to the quality of drinking water, this is a matter for the relevant local authority.