Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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Question 62: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the way our water quality compares with other European countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39284/11]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Water quality in Ireland compares favourably with that of other European countries. The most recent EPA report on water quality, Water Quality in Ireland 2007-2009 , found that the overall quality of surface waters had stabilised while that of groundwater had improved over the previous three-year period.

A 50% reduction in the number of seriously polluted river sites was noted in the report and some significant improvements in estuarine areas were seen due to the commissioning of new wastewater treatment plants. However, the report also found that continued improvements across a range of sectors are needed if Ireland is to achieve its obligations under the Water Framework Directive. Nutrient enrichment causing eutrophication remains the principal and most widespread pressure on the aquatic environment in Ireland.

Figure 6.2 in Chapter 6 of the Report shows a comparison of Irish surface water bodies with those of 10 other European countries, classified in accordance with the Water Framework Directive. The full report is available on the EPA website at http://www.epa.ie/downloads/pubs/water/waterqua/ .