Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 150: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans for eliminating the pollution of Lough Corrib which is the main source of water supply for Galway City and a large part of County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44548/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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My Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007 — 2009 includes more than 50 major water and sewerage schemes with a value of more than €464 million for County Galway. There are a further eight schemes worth in excess of €114 million included for Galway city.

A significant share of the sewerage schemes in the Programme are in the Corrib catchment. They include Headford, which is substantially completed, Dunmore, which is expected to finish Spring 2009, and Tuam (Phase 2), Oughterard, Claregalway, Milltown and Corofin which are being progressed as quickly as possible. Galway County Council is also providing a new scheme at Clonbur under the devolved rural water programme which is part funded by my Department. These schemes will play a major role in preserving and improving water quality in the river and lake. Sewerage schemes already in place within the Corrib catchment with the aid of funding from my Department include Tuam (Phase 1), Moycullen, Cong, Ballyhaunis, Ballinrobe and Claremorris.

With regard to water quality in Lough Corrib, EPA monitoring for the period 2004 to 2006 shows that the upper section was classified as being in a mesotrophic category, indicative of a low level of pollution, and the lower section was classified as being oligotrophic, suggesting a very low level of pollution. Both these classifications were consistent with satisfactory water quality conditions and were based on the level of total phosphorous and chlorophyll measured on at least 12 occasions in each of these years.

Since December 2006, a new monitoring programme has been in place to meet Water Framework Directive requirements. Based on data collected in 2007, and 2008 under this programme, the interim water quality classification of Lough Corrib will be 'moderate'. This is due, inter alia, to the presence of roach in the lake and the effect on other fish populations. It does not reflect any change in water quality conditions from earlier EPA water quality reports.

There is ongoing liaison between my Department, other State agencies and local authorities on the co-ordination of policies and actions to protect and secure water quality in all areas. The European Communities (Good Agricultural Practice for the Protection of Waters) Regulations 2006 and 2007, were developed in close consultation with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and Teagasc and are supported by an enhanced package of financial supports for farmers and cross-compliance systems operated by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. The Regulations provide a statutory basis for a range of measures to protect waters, such as Lough Corrib, from pollution by nitrates and phosphates from agricultural sources.