Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)

The renewed programme for Government agreed on 10 October 2009, agreed to by Deputy Mattie McGrath and Deputy Michael Healy-Rae's father, included a commitment to introduce a scheme for the licensing and inspection of septic tanks and wastewater treatment systems. On 29 October 2009 the European Court of Justice ruled against Ireland and we had to introduce a system. The previous Government agreed that the legal obligation on Ireland required new legislation to be brought forward to provide for the setting of standards for the operation and performance of septic tanks and other on-site wastewater treatment systems and the monitoring and inspection of the performance of such treatment systems. It agreed that to address the ruling it would be necessary to bring forward legislation to provide for the setting of standards for the operation of septic tanks, particularly older systems. It also agreed that legislation would be required to provide for the monitoring and inspection of the performance of such treatment systems and set out the responsibilities of all householders served by these systems, including requirements to carry out remedial actions, where necessary, without cost to the Exchequer.

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