A £5 MILLION strategy management plan to improve water quality in the State's rivers and lakes has been published by the Minister for the Environment, Mr Howlin.
As part of the plan, consultants are to be appointed immediately to implement comprehensive catchment monitoring and management systems for Lough Derg and Lough Ree on the Shannon. Similar systems for the Suir Boyne and Liffey catchments will be set up later this year.
Stressing that the plan was new - while some of the funding might be old - the Minister's Department said the aim was to redress deterioration in water quality caused by excessive inputs of phosphorus.
The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) report on water quality for 1991-94 recorded a 7 per cent increase in slight and moderate pollution in rivers - from 21 per cent to 28 per cent - while 18 per cent of lakes surveyed were found to be polluted.
The strategy provided "a clearer focus on, and a more systematic approach to", eutrophication, caused by excessive enrichment, said Mr Howlin.
Targets include an annual 10 per cent reduction in the use of artificial P fertiliser over five years and a greater use of the Rural Environment Protection Scheme (REPS) by farmers. It also aims to reduce the phosphate content of detergents, while regulatory authorities will be asked to seek reductions in the phosphate content of industrial effluents.
The £2 million monitoring and management systems for Lough Derg and Lough Ree will focus on the identification of pollution sources.
A separate project operational management group will be asked to oversee each, representing a range of statutory and sectoral interests - including local authorities, regional fisheries, Teagasc, farm bodies and angling clubs.
EU cohesion funding of £18 million and £12 million respectively has already been approved by the European Commission for the two Shannon lakes. Yesterday, the Minister announced he was approving contract documents for the Portumna sewerage scheme in the Lough Derg catchment.
