Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 225: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position in regard to the proposed sewerage scheme for Burtonport, County Donegal. [4251/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The Burtonport Sewerage Scheme is included in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007–2009 as a scheme to start construction in 2008 at an estimated cost of €3.7m. My Department is awaiting submission of Donegal County Council's revised Preliminary Report for the scheme.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 226: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the proposed waste water treatment plant at Shanganagh, Shankill, County Dublin; his views on whether the proposed siting of the plant in close proximity to a residential area meets EU and Irish standards of best practice and legislative requirements; and if he will guarantee that the Shankill plant will not cause similar environmental problems including noise, odour and water pollution currently being caused by the Poolbeg sewage treatment plant in his constituency. [4256/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Responsibility for the planning of this project, including the siting of the waste water treatment plant, is a matter for Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and the project has been subject to statutory Environmental Impact Assessment. The Environmental Impact Assessment was adopted by the elected members of the Council prior to submission to An Bord Pleanála for approval. I understand that the Council is currently examining tenders for the plant which is included in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007-2009. The plant is required to meet our statutory obligations under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.

The operation and maintenance of the plant, following completion, will also be a matter for Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council. The Waste Water Discharge (Authorisation) Regulations, 2007, which I made in September 2007, provide for the authorisation and compliance monitoring by the EPA 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, ground water and coastal waters will meet highest international standards.

In addition, the European Communities (Waste Water Treatment) (Prevention of Odours and Noise) Regulations, 2005, require local authorities to ensure that their waste water treatment plants are operated and maintained so as not to cause a nuisance through odours or noise emissions. Local authorities are also required to maintain records of odour and noise incidents occurring in treatment plants and to provide details of any such incidents in their annual report to the EPA.