Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)

As someone who lives in an urban area the Minister is probably surprised to see me speak on the Bill. I got figures the other day which indicated that approximately 19,500 people in Dublin have septic tanks. In my local authority area the figure is 5,000. The constituency I represent, Dublin South-West, covers rural areas such as Bohernabreena and Brittas. It contains the Blessington Lakes catchment area which is used for the provision of water for the Dublin area. A stringent approach is taken to planning applications in that regard. It is natural that people are concerned about what may be coming down the line. They are seeking clarity. It is difficult for people to understand how they have to pay the tax but in some cases, literally 100 yards down the road, people are linked up to the main sewer. Deputies referred to standards. That is the double standard that people cannot understand. No effort or support has been forthcoming from the local authority or the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government to try to bring those people into either the water or sewerage schemes. It would be helpful if the Minister could signal that supports would be forthcoming or that an action plan would be put in place for those who are caught in such a situation.

Tallaght is a new city yet people in the middle of Tallaght have a septic tank. I raised the matter with the local authority but I have been told there is no funding available or planning in that regard. I accept that the Minister has the required majority to implement the legislation but if the work is not done today as part of the overall package it must be done in the future. We must connect people with septic tanks to the mains system. Many of the people to whom I refer are elderly. They are getting on in years or they do not have the financial wherewithal to do the work. We all want to see a top class, clean water system but we should not penalise people who are in this situation. Many of the families concerned have lived in the area for hundreds of years. They would like not to be reliant on wells, chemical toilets or septic tanks. They want to be connected to the mains system but there are no plans for that. I accept that rural areas are a separate issue. I sympathise with those affected but this is an aspect of the debate that has not been aired. I would like the Minister to respond to it at some stage.

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