Source: European Parliament
There are currently two infringement cases in relation to Ireland on compliance with the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive[1] (UWWTD).
On 7 February 2024 the Commission issued a letter of formal notice to Ireland for failing to fully comply with the directive in agglomerations Kilmore Quay, Kilrush, Kilkee, Whitegate-Aghada, Moville, Mitchelstown, Clareabbey and Lahinch as urban waste waters are not properly treated before being discharged.
A further three agglomerations with a population of more than 10 000 — Ringaskiddy, Malahide and Cobh[2] — were considered to be discharging wastewater in sensitive areas without the more stringent treatment as required by the directive[3].
In another case[4], on 28 March 2019 the Court of Justice of the EU gave its judgment in Case C-427/17[5] and found that Ireland breached various obligations of the UWWTD in relation to the following agglomerations: Arklow, Athlone, Cork City, Enniscorthy, Ballybofey/Stranorlar, Cobh, Enfield, Fermoy, Killybegs, Mallow, Midleton, Passage/Monkstown, Rathcormac, Ringaskiddy, Ringsend, Roscommon Town, Shannon Town, Tubbercurry, Youghal, Dundalk and Castlebridge.
As the cases are still ongoing, at this stage, the Commission is not in a position to confirm the compliance of any of the above listed agglomerations with the requirements of the directive. However, the most recent report on the implementation of the directive in Ireland is public[6].
- [1] Council Directive 91/271/EEC of 21 May 1991 concerning urban waste-water treatment, OJ L 135, 30.5.1991, p. 40-52.
- [2] In relation to Ringaskiddy and Cobh the letter of formal notice of 7 February 2024 covers new issues compared to those already covered by the judgment in case C — 427/17, Commission v. Ireland.
- [3] https://ec.europa.eu/atwork/applying-eu-law/infringements-proceedings/infringement_decisions/?langCode=EN&version=v1&typeOfSearch=byCase&activeCase=true&page=1&size=10&order=desc&sortColumns=refId&refId=INFR(2023)2178
- [4] https://ec.europa.eu/atwork/applying-eu-law/infringements-proceedings/infringement_decisions/?langCode=EN&version=v1&typeOfSearch=byCase&refId=INFR(2013)2056&activeCase=true&page=1&size=10&order=desc&sortColumns=refId
- [5] https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/753775e2-8608-11e9-9f05-01aa75ed71a1/language-en
- [6] https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/water/urban-wastewater/implementation-reports_en