400 Mr. G. Reynolds asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the extent to which his Department has provided incentives with the objective of eliminating pollution of waterways; the number of prosecutions taken by his Department in each year from 1997 to 2001; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8017/02]

I refer to the reply to Question No. 159 of 28 February 2002 which outlines investment and other initiatives by my Department with the objective of eliminating pollution of waterways.

Local authorities, as statutory pollution control authorities, have a key role in protecting water resources and avail of an extensive range of powers to give effect to their responsibilities in this area. While my Department does not initiative prosecutions in relation to water pollution control, the following is a summary of relevant enforcement activity by local authorities, under the Local Government (Water Pollution) Acts, 1977 and 1990, in 1999 which is the most recent year for which this information is available to my Department: