Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 673: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of defective or failed waste and water treatment systems brought to the attention of his Department in each county in the past five years; if he is satisfied that the regulations governing the construction, maintenance and monitoring of these systems are adequate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3124/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) produces regular reports on municipal waste water discharges, including treatment standards, and on the quality of drinking water supplies in Ireland. The Agency's most recent reports "Urban Waste Water Discharges in Ireland – A Report for the Years 2004 and 2005" and "The Provision and Quality of Drinking Water in Ireland – A Report for the Years 2006 – 2007" are available in the Oireachtas Library.

The Drinking Water (No 2) Regulations 2007 strengthened the enforcement provisions in relation to drinking water standards. The regulations provide for the supervision of local authority drinking water supplies by the EPA. Local authorities continue to be responsible for supervising group water scheme supplies but all monitoring programmes are now subject to approval by the Agency. The Agency is required to supervise the performance by local authorities of their monitoring functions. Penalties for non-compliance with the requirements of the Regulations have been increased considerably with the inclusion of indictable offence provisions, and supervisory authorities now have powers of direct intervention if necessary to ensure compliance with their instructions.

In the case of waste water, the Waste Water Discharge (Authorisation) Regulations, 2007, which I made in September 2007, provide for the authorisation and compliance monitoring by the Agency of discharges from local authority waste water treatment works and collection systems to all types of receiving waters. The Regulations implement aspects of the Dangerous Substances and Water Framework Directives and will ensure that waste water discharges into surface waters, groundwater and coastal waters will meet highest international standards.