Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 202: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will reply to a matter (details supplied). [45092/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The European Communities (Water Policy) Regulations 2003 require that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) prepare a programme of monitoring in order to provide an assessment of water quality status within each river basin district. An interim assessment of status will be included in the first River Basin Management Plans, and a final assessment will be published by the EPA by 22 June 2011 in accordance with the European Communities Environmental Objectives (Surface Waters) Regulations 2009.

The first monitoring cycle commenced in 2007 for a three-year period to the end of 2009. While monitoring of inland waters, including rivers and lakes, has been completed, gaps remain in relation to coastal monitoring, particularly along the west coast, and in relation to some parameters for estuarine waters. My Department is liaising with the EPA and the Marine Institute to ensure that gaps in marine monitoring are addressed in time for the final status assessment.