John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)

I do not fully understand the Deputy's question. On the one hand, he is saying that there is no standard and on the other, that there is a standard, but it dates back to 1991. That is the standard, the NSAI standard. I have just informed the House that there is an EPA standard. I have also informed the House that I have issued letters to the local authorities on the matter. We are taking account of the directive and are implementing higher standards.

The Deputy knows that local authorities have the power to issue by-laws in this area. Only one has done so to date, namely Cavan County Council, mainly because of the topographic situation in that county. We are working on the matter and the Deputy is right to identify the septic tank as a major issue in the context of water quality.

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