Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

600. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he has received correspondence from the European Commission as part of formal infringement procedures relating to the delays in introducing a dedicated wastewater treatment collection network for the Gaoth Dobhair agglomeration and the subsequent failure to comply with the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC; if he accepts the findings of the Commission that this failure represents non-compliance with the aforementioned legal act as communicated in this correspondence; his plans to reply to the Commission in respect of this charge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45722/15]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) generally requires that all agglomerations greater than 2,000 population equivalent are provided with collecting systems for urban waste water and that collected waste water receives the appropriate level of treatment before discharge.

The Directive also provides that where the establishment of a collecting system is not justified either because it would produce no environmental benefit or because it would involve exceptional costs, individual appropriate systems (e.g. septic tanks) which achieve the same level of environmental protection can be used.

The European Commission has queried the provision of a collecting system for Gaoth Dobhair as part of a wider infringement procedure concerning implementation of Directive 91/271/EEC on urban waste water. My Department, assisted by Irish Water, and in consultation with the Environmental Protection Agency where appropriate, is currently preparing a response to the Commission in relation to this infringement procedure. This response will involve consideration of possible options being reviewed by Irish Water for addressing the Directive requirements in relation to Gaoth Dobhair.

Since 1 January 2014 Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels including the management of urban waste water collection and treatment infrastructure. Within its Water Services Strategic Plan, Irish Water has set out an objective of ensuring compliance with the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive and set out target dates to achieve this.