Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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238. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the situation with regard to measures to address the sewage discharges at Doldrum Bay, Howth; the timeframe he envisages to deliver a longterm solution for the cessation of sewage discharges near this location and from the Howth peninsula generally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39538/16]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Neither I nor my Department has any role in monitoring or supervising the delivery of water services. Irish Water has statutory responsibility for the planning, delivery and operation of public water and wastewater services at national, regional and local levels. The EPA is responsible for licensing and regulating urban waste water discharges.

Irish Water has informed my Department that it has completed works on site as part of a short term solution to address the historic discharge of wastewater from a small number of houses to the beach at Doldrum Bay, Howth, Co. Dublin. These works included the construction of a replacement pipeline on the beach and upgrade works to the distribution chamber. The new outfall pipeline is now fully functional with the discharge point below the spring low water mark. The visual and aesthetic impact of the discharge is, therefore, now substantially alleviated.

Irish Water is evaluating options for a long term strategy to entirely remove the Doldrum Bay discharge. The longer term solution will involve diverting the discharge via two pumping stations and connecting it, ultimately, to the Ringsend Wastewater Treatment Plant. The design of a permanent scheme has been commenced by Irish Water. This long term solution will be subject to statutory planning and environmental processes that will be carried out as part of the detailed design programme.

Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. The team can be contacted via email at oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on a dedicated number, 1890 578 578.