Written answers

Tuesday, 24 May 2016

Department of Environment, Community and Local Government

Water Quality

Photo of Brendan GriffinBrendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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226. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government to address a matter regarding water quality testing (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11395/16]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) monitors the quality of Ireland’s water and environment under the Water Framework Directive (WFD) monitoring programme which began in 2007. Under this programme, the EPA assesses general physico-chemical parameters (nutrients, oxygen, temperature, salinity) and biological quality elements (phytoplankton, macroalgae and angiosperms).

Since January 2016, the EPA has taken on the entirety of the operational monitoring function which had previously been shared with the local authorities. On the ground sampling is conducted by local authorities and operational and surveillance samples are then brought to EPA laboratories (and to Dublin City’s laboratory for the eastern region). Investigative samples continue to be assessed by local authority laboratories.

This collaboration between local authorities and the EPA optimises the resources available and has come about as a result of detailed discussions between the EPA, the local authorities and my Department. It has been operating very effectively since the start of this year and there is no material diminution of the level or quality of monitoring on the ground. It allows local authorities to focus more resources on investigative monitoring and provides for the highest level of assessment consistency and data quality control.

There are currently 51 chemistry river sites and 169 biological river sites designated for WFD operational and surveillance monitoring in the Kerry region for the 2016-2018 period. Under the national programme, two of the tributaries of Lough Currane are monitored namely Cummeragh stream (21C04) and Isknagahiny Lough Stream (21I03). This programme has not changed since the original programme was put in place in 2007. The status of Lough Currane in the most recent assessment period was good status.

While the EPA is responsible for the analysis of samples taken for the national surveillance and operational monitoring programme for lakes and rivers there is no barrier to the local authority undertaking additional monitoring and analysis for local purposes.

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