Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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1070. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government for details of any communications that has taken place with the European Commission regarding breaches of the urban waste water treatment directive as listed by the Environmental Protection Agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37872/15]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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My Department is in regular communication with the European Commission regarding the implementation of the range of EU Directives for which I am responsible as Minister. The Commission and my Department meet on an annual basis in this regard and the next such meeting is scheduled for 17 November in Dublin. In October 2012, Ireland was notified of a pilot EU infringement regarding the possible non-compliance of a number of identified urban agglomerations with the requirements of the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive. This was subsequently upgraded to a formal infringement proceeding by letter of formal notice in September 2013. In that letter, the Commission outlined its concerns in relation to Ireland’s compliance with various aspects of the Directive.

Ireland responded to the Commission on 11 December 2013 and on 14 February 2014. A supplementary letter of formal notice was received from the Commission on 24 September 2015 updating and fully replacing the initial letter of formal notice. My Department, with the support of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Irish Water, is currently preparing a response to the letter of formal notice.