Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

The second point is that we accept it is risk based, but when examining the risk involved, we should look at the areas in which there are high levels of groundwater pollution in considering the framework plans, but my understanding is that the Minister will be looking at the type of system in place. I have no doubt the grid will take into account the type of system in place and that on any risk based analysis those with older systems will be at much higher risk of not complying with the standards and are, therefore, certain to face inspection.

The third aspect the Minister appears to gloss over at times is that regardless of whether one's septic tank is inspected, one is still required under the Bill to bring one's system up to the prescribed standard, even though we do not yet know what that will be. If the Minister could deal with these issues, we would be able to move forward.

If the Minister is right that approximately 10% of septic tanks will fail and that the average cost will be approximately €2,000, the cost of providing a 100% grant will be €100 million. That will be a small sum out of the €1.5 billion he has set aside for water and wastewater services in the next five years. If he really believes what he has been saying to everybody for the past four or five months and since he believes this will be so cheap, he should be able to announce today that there will be a 100% grant to meet the cost of prescribed upgrades. If we could get this, many problems will be solved and the only issue that will remain will be the provision of a 100% grant to meet maintenance costs.

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