Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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77. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to correspondence (details supplied); if he will provide a schedule of EU Directives that his Department is not in compliance with; the reason for same; if he will take immediate steps to ensure that the State complies with 2006 European Union bathing water Directive; the steps that he is currently taking to improve water quality in the Dublin bay south area. [53818/22]

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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94. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to correspondence (details supplied); if he will provide a schedule of EU Directives that his Department is not in compliance with; the reason for same; and if he will take immediate steps to ensure that the State complies with 2006 European Union bathing water Directive. [53819/22]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 77 and 94 together.

A copy of the correspondence referenced has been received by my Department and a response will issue in due course.

The table below sets out detail of open cases where the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) have issued judgments against the State in areas that fall within the responsibility of my Department.

With regards to the Bathing Water Directive, the European Commission undertook a review of the implementation of this Directive in 2018 and concluded that Ireland is in line with the provisions of the Directive and offers several good practices demonstrating how the Directive can be implemented.

The primary responsibility for the monitoring, management, protection and improvement of bathing water quality is assigned to local authorities under the Local Government (Water Pollution) Acts and related legislation. Ongoing work by the Dublin Bay Task Group, chaired by Dublin City Council is aimed at improving bathing water quality in the Dublin area, all year round.

Since 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local level, including investment in waste water treatment plants and returning waste water safely to the environment in an efficient and sustainable manner.

In respect of Dublin Bay, the Ringsend wastewater treatment plant was originally designed and built to treat wastewater for a population equivalent of 1.64 million, but is now operating in excess of its design capacity. In response, Irish Water is currently undertaking a major upgrade of the plant. This upgrade will increase the capacity of the plant to cater for a population equivalent of 2.4 million by the end of 2025.

In addition, officials are currently examining the most suitable options to provide for safe bathing water during the winter months, and improve the dissemination of information around bathing water quality, particularly in the Dublin bay area.