Tony Killeen
Question:318 Mr. Killeen asked the Minister for the Environment the proposals, if any, he has to improve water quality in Lough Derg, County Clare. [16219/96]
Vol. 469 No. 1
318 Mr. Killeen asked the Minister for the Environment the proposals, if any, he has to improve water quality in Lough Derg, County Clare. [16219/96]
Responsibility for water quality in Lough Derg and implementation of appropriate measures to deal with pollution is a matter primarily for the local authorities concerned and the Environmental Protection Agency in so far as activities licensable by the agency may be involved. Extensive statutory powers are available under the Water Pollution Acts, 1977 and 1990, and the Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1992, to support these bodies in their roles. These have been complemented by the recent enactment of the Waste Management Act, 1996, and by a new provision allowing local authorities to require farmers to prepare nutrient management plans, where warranted, in the interests of restoring or protecting water quality.