asked the Minister for the Environment if it is considered that a treatment plant should be an essential part of modern sewerage schemes; and if he will make a statement regarding the position of the new sewage scheme at Bantry, Country Cork, bearing in mind the suggestion that raw sewage is to be discharged into Bantry Bay.

The discharge of screened and macerated sewage to the sea through a properly sited outfall is an accepted method of disposal for coastal towns and increasingly common in European practice.

The outfall arrangements to be provided as part of Bantry Sewerage Scheme were decided on by the local authority and its consultants and approved by my Department having regard to the siting of the outfall and the capacity of the receiving waters to absorb the pollutional load.

These new arrangements will be a considerable improvement on the existing method of final disposal and will not give rise to an environmental risk.

Arising out of the Minister's reply can he clarify whether or not, as is implied in the question, raw sewage will be discharged into Bantry Bay?

There is nothing objectionable in the discharge of macerated sewage effluent into the sea or into any estuary provided the quantity of and the movements in the receiving waters are adequate to disperse it. There is nothing unusual or objectionable about that.

Macerated means chewed up rather than treated and I should like to know if the Minister is happy with that situation in relation to Bantry? Has he approved this scheme?

Yes, and the local authority and their consultants agreed on that scheme and sent it to me for approval.

It will make thing much worse in Bantry.