Michael D'Arcy (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 332: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of waste water treatment plants nationally not working to a satisfactory level; the number of these units that have polluted watercourses and streams; and the number of prosecutions that have taken place due to malfunctioning waste water treatment plants. [6995/08]

Michael D'Arcy (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 333: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the plans his Department has to fast track the delivery of waste water treatment plants to local authorities where plants are malfunctioning. [6996/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 332 and 333 together.

The most up-to-date information in relation to the operation of local authority wastewater treatment facilities may be obtained from the EPA's publication "Urban Waste Water Discharges in Ireland — A Report for the Years 2004 and 2005". The Agency's report "Water Quality in Ireland 2007" sets out the factors adversely impacting on water bodies including wastewater discharges. The Water Services Investment Programme 2007-2009 takes account, among other things, of the need to improve standards of local authority discharges and contains details of all wastewater treatment schemes approved for funding by my Department. These publications are all available in the Oireachtas Library.

In addition, in September 2007, I made the Waste Water Discharge (Authorisation) Regulations 2007 to provide for an authorisation system for urban wastewater discharges by local authorities and for the purpose of giving further effect to the Dangerous Substances Directive and the Water Framework Directive. The authorisation system will be administered by the EPA and apply to all discharges to waters from sewage treatment plants or collection systems owned or controlled by local water services authorities.