Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)

People in rural areas have already registered when they apply for planning permission. Local authorities have mapping systems for every rural house within their jurisdiction and functional area. The dots are on the maps. Local authorities know which houses are connected to septic tanks and mains sewers.

The Minister took me to task on the army of inspectors. He began to refer to other kinds of armies. The fact is that 70E provides for a cohort, army of inspectors, or whatever one likes to call them, to be licensed by the EPA. The point that Sinn Féin made to the Minister is that we already have technicians in local authorities with engineering qualifications. Many of them are now under-employed in that local authorities do not have much capital work ongoing currently. There are very few new capital works going on in water services or sanitary services or any kind of major civil engineering works. Those staff are part of the local authority structure and they are qualified and available. Those people could now be used to inspect septic tanks taking a risk-based approach, which we support, in particular in areas where there is a high risk of pollution and where water sources must be protected. Technicians could give advice and support to rural householders instead of creating a new army of inspectors to do the job.

A substantial number of people will carry out inspections. If the Minister provides for the appointment of inspectors by the EPA, they may not be as sensitive to local conditions and needs or even the people or community they are dealing with as local authority technicians or engineers. Local authorities have a good record of dealing with people within their own functional area. That needs to be considered. It is a pity that the Government is setting out to create a completely new regime under the jurisdiction of the EPA. Local authority technicians could work under the EPA. Local authorities are governed currently by EPA regulations and standards which provides a perfect fit without creating new positions or putting an extra burden on the Exchequer or rural householders.

I urge the Minister to amend the fee, which is unnecessary. It sets a precedent and is the thin end of a thick wedge. All legislation can be changed. We have seen previously what happens when Governments, in particular those with a large majority, such as is the case with the Government which fills two thirds of the House, are in a position to push through legislation and to change the requirements.

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