Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 221: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if Athenry, County Galway, will have a new waste water treatment plant built in the very near future; if his attention has been drawn to the number of undesirable temporary waste water treatment plants around the town of Athenry and the number of housing estates that have been constructed in the town over the past number of years; if his further attention has been drawn to the inevitability of the local river being seriously polluted in the near future; when phase three of the scheme will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44295/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The Athenry Sewerage Scheme is included for funding under my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007 — 2009. Galway County Council's Design Review Report for the scheme was received in my Department in September 2008 and is being dealt with as quickly as possible. I understand that the Council is currently carrying out interim improvement works to the existing waste water treatment plant serving Athenry to ensure there is sufficient capacity to cater for current loadings and to prevent pollution.

Under the Waste Water Discharge (Authorisation) Regulations, 2007, a planning authority or An Bord Pleanála is required, when dealing with a planning application or appeal, to consider whether the discharge of waste water from a proposed development, in conjunction with existing discharges to the receiving waters, would give rise to pollution.