Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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2. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the progress made in the past 12 months on phase 2 and phase 3 of the Mountmellick sewage scheme; and the progress in having those houses in the town that are using septic tanks connected to the mains network. [51817/13]

Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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Shall I read the question?

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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If the Deputy wishes, he has 30 seconds in which to make a comment about his question prior to the Minister's reply.

Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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Do the same rules apply as previously?

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Minister has two minutes in which to reply; the Deputy has one minute in which to put a supplementary question and the Minister has one minute in which to reply.

Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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Therefore, the Minister is first.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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If he so wishes, the Deputy has the right to address his question for 30 seconds before the Minister responds. That is provided for in the new Standing Orders.

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Ceann Comhairle for his clarification.

Mountmellick sewerage scheme, phases 2 and 3, is listed in the current water services investment programme 2010–13 as a scheme to progress through planning. The scheme aims to improve the wastewater infrastructure to meet the needs of existing development within the town. Phase 2 will involve the upgrade and expansion of the existing collection network and treatment facilities, while phase 3 will look to the long-term ultimate development of Mountmellick, including a new sewage collection system to serve undeveloped areas within the town boundaries.

An Bórd Pleanála granted conditional planning permission for the scheme in May 2012. A preliminary report has been submitted to my Department for the scheme and is under review. The council is reviewing certain areas within the town boundaries with regard to properties served by septic tanks. In addition, an application for a wastewater discharge licence has been made to the Environmental Protection Agency. The outcome of the council’s review and the decision on the application for a wastewater discharge licence will feed into the assessment of the preliminary report.

From 1 January 2014, Irish Water will be responsible for the delivery of water services capital infrastructure. Accordingly, it is preparing a capital investment plan for the period 2014 to 2015 which will provide for the transition of projects included in the water services investment programme 2010-13.

Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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I thank the Minister for his reply. The reason I raise the issue is the takeover by Uisce Éireann of services from 1 January 2014. I note that it is putting in place a capital investment plan for 2014. I hope the project can be included, given that there are 80 houses with septic tanks in various parts of the town. There are others in the Garoon, Mount Manor, Pond Lane, Debicot and Chapel Lane areas. Clearly, there is a health and environmental issue, as there is poor percolation, given the number of septic tanks within such a small area. There is a high water table in the Mountmellick area and also a problem with the existing network. This is acknowledged by virtue of the fact that phase 2 of the scheme is supposed to lead to the upgrade of the network. The Minister is correct in saying that in May 2012 conditional planning permission for the scheme was granted by An Bord Pleanála. In my question I asked what progress had been made in the past 12 months, but according to the reply it appears that not much progress has been made. The design work has been done for the scheme. If Mountmellick, the second largest town in the county, is to develop in a sustainable way and it is to attract industry, it needs a proper drainage and sewerage system.

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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We are making progress. Mountmellick sewerage scheme is included in the programme for the period 2010 to 2013. As I said, the Environmental Protection Agency has to adjudicate on the application for a wastewater discharge licence. It is an independent agency and I cannot interfere in that process. The application was lodged just a few months ago arising following the decision by An Bord Pleanála to grant planning permission. The process is taking its course and I hope the decision can be made in the next couple of months.

Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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I understand the application for the wastewater discharge licence has been with the EPA for the past four or five months. I understand it is one of the necessary pieces of the jigsaw to be put in place. At this point there should not be any further delay. My information is that the council has supplied all of the necessary information and that the project is ready to proceed. The design work has been done. All that is required is for the wastewater discharge licence application to be sorted out as the sewerage plant has been upgraded. I have a letter, dated 17 September 2007, issued during the boom and sent by a former Minister to local people stating no less than €12 million had been allocated. I recognise that this is not the Minister's fault, but I highlight the fact that it was not done. As the town is expanding, it needs this infrastructure. When Uisce Éireann opens for business, we must try to have it include this as one of its capital projects in the period 2014 to 2015.

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I have just told the Deputy that all of the projects listed in the water services investment programme 2010-13 will transfer to Irish Water on 1 January 2014; therefore, the project will be included in the capital investment plan for the period 2014 to 2015. We cannot progress the project any further until we receive the EPA licence. It will not move backwards when responsibility is transferred to Irish Water. I hope it will progress much more quickly than in 2007.