Report criticises State over emissions and water quality

A European Environment Agency (EEA) report has criticised Ireland's failure to cut its greenhouse gas emissions, the quality of drinking water and the high levels of pollution in rural waterways.

The report entitled "Europe's Environment: The Third Assessment" says Ireland's recent economic boom has increased energy consumption "generating substantial increases in emissions".

It claims the State has failed to make the necessary reductions in greenhouse gas emissions to keep it in line with its Kyoto commitments.

In terms of water quality it said only about half of the population in Ireland was connected to wastewater treatment plants, with 30-40 per cent of the population connected to secondary or tertiary treatment plants.

This led to a concern about the quality of drinking water in group and private supplies, the report claimed.

The high level of organic matter concentration in rural waterways was also noted. The report pointed to the build-up of a surplus phosphorus (arising from fertilisers) in the soils in the catchments draining into lakes. It mentioned Lough Neagh and Lough Erne in particular.

The report said the state of the environment across Europe has improved in several aspects but progress in some areas is being wiped out by economic growth "because governments have yet to make significant strides towards decoupling environmental pressures from economic activity".

Minister for State at the Department of Environment, Mr Pat the Cope Gallagher, welcomed the report's publication while acknowledging concerns raised about Ireland.

In relation to greenhouse gas emissions, he said the targets agreed at Kyoto were demanding and we "will be put to the pin of our collar to make reductions right to the end of the commitment period in 2012".

In regard to the concern expressed about the quality of drinking water, he said the Government has committed €644 million in the National Development Plan to tackle the problem.