Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)

It is a difficult issue that dates back to 2009 when there was a proposal to have universal inspection of all septic tanks and to have the EPA code of practice of 2009 implemented. We negotiated with the European Commission. It brought us to court and that is the reason the European Court of Justice judgment was handed down. The Commission needed a comprehensive register of septic tanks in the country and it wanted to ensure that what was there was working. We had the benefit of the Cavan experience. Cavan was excluded from the court judgment because it was satisfied with the by-laws that were introduced in Cavan in 2004. There have been 3,000 inspections in Cavan and we know from the Cavan experience the type of problems that might arise, the extent of those problems and that the vast majority of those inspections passed.

The Gweedore sewerage treatment plant is part of the water investment programme for Donegal County Council and I am sure it will happen in due course. Anybody who wishes to resolve this problem can do so by simply de-sludging their septic tank, in the same way as the people of Cavan have done over the last eight years.

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