Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)

There will be a national and local register because it will be the same information that will be available to the local authorities and to the Department. Once the registration system is complete, after one year the local authorities will be charged with inspecting the tanks on the basis of a risk-based approach. The areas which pose the greatest risk to the ground water will be those around streams, rivers and lakes. These areas will be well-known to the local authorities and the EPA and they will be prioritised.

Regarding a maintenance agreement, the local authority will seek assurances that any required work will be verified as being completed and a maintenance agreement will need to be drawn up to ensure the system - just as in the case of the bio-cycle systems - is doing what it was intended to do. The guidelines will be published following the enactment of the legislation. I will outline the process when the Bill comes before the House in approximately four to six weeks.

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