Lorraine Higgins (Labour)
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I thank the Minister for coming to the House to deal with this issue which has occurred in Craughwell, County Galway. I raise the matter of the private wastewater treatment plant on behalf of the residents of the Dún Ard housing estate. The plant services up to 59 houses. Water is seeping out of the plant and into the nearby Dunkellin River which is presenting a significant environmental and health and safety issue. The threat posed by the plant is further corroborated by the fact that information has become available to the residents under an FOI request which indicates that the plant failed all monitoring tests carried out between 2007 and 2012 yet nothing was done by the relevant authorities to rectify the matter. To exacerbate the situation, the ESB switched off the electricity supply to the wastewater treatment plant last week due to an unpaid bill, which will undoubtedly cause further significant problems. It is clear from the information I have received that there is a threat of water pollution and environmental damage as a result of the foregoing. Health and safety consequences will inevitably follow as long as the power to the treatment plant remains off. On that basis I ask the Minister to take all necessary remedial steps to ensure that appropriate enforcement action is taken to address the issue. It is imperative that residents receive confirmation that the wastewater treatment system serving the Dun Ard estate is operated and maintained in accordance with the licence requirements, that it does not cause environmental pollution and that all relevant environmental legislation is being complied with.

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I thank Senator Higgins for the opportunity to clarify the position at the wastewater treatment plant at Dún Ard, Craughwell, County Galway. As she is aware, the provision of water and sewerage services is the responsibility of the 34 city and county councils which are designated as water services authorities under the Water Services Act 2007.

The Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2010-13 provides for the development of a comprehensive range of new water services infrastructure in County Galway. The programme includes contracts under construction and to commence to the value of some ¤130 million in the county during the period of the programme.

A key input to the development of the programme was the assessment of needs prepared by local authorities, including Galway County Council, in response to the Department's request to the authorities in 2009 to review and prioritise their proposals for new capital works in their areas. These were subsequently appraised in the Department in the context of the funds available and key criteria that complemented those used by the authorities. However, the Craughwell sewerage scheme was not among the priority contracts and schemes selected for inclusion in the current programme.

Progress under the Water Services Investment Programme 2010-13 was reviewed in mid 2011 and through this process consideration was given to any newly-emerging priority contracts and schemes submitted by local authorities for addition to the programme. No proposal for a sewerage scheme at Craughwell was received from Galway County Council in response to the review.

In accordance with the 2007 Act, my role as Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government for water services is to facilitate the provision by water services authorities of safe and efficient water services and associated water services infrastructure. The Department's role is in developing and implementing Government policy in this area, making sure that the necessary funding is made available to finance the water services investment and the rural water programmes and monitoring physical and financial progress on schemes. In the period 2000-11, over ¤5.5 billion has been invested in the water services sector under these programmes.

The wastewater treatment plant referred to at Craughwell, County Galway, is a privately-owned and managed wastewater treatment plant. The Department has no responsibility for, or role to play in, the management, maintenance or operation of such plants. Galway County Council has advised the Department that this is a development which remains the responsibility of the developer and has been the subject of enforcement proceedings by the county council. Galway County Council is in ongoing discussion with the developer and is making every effort to ensure that the development, including its wastewater treatment plant, is brought up to the required standard, with a view to management of the development being taken over by the management company formed for this purpose.

I suggest to the Senator that this is likely to be an issue for the planning authorities for enforcement purposes in respect of this developer and to ensure there is a proper standard of wastewater treatment facilities for the people who live in Dún Ard in Craughwell. That is the appropriate way to bring the matter to a successful conclusion.

Lorraine Higgins (Labour)
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I thank the Minister for his response. I referred to the monitoring tests carried out in 2007 and 2012 for the wastewater treatment plant. Nothing has been done by the relevant authorities to rectify the matter. Is that not a matter of concern for the Minister and the Department? I also ask the Minister to discuss the matter further with Galway County Council and consider calling in the bond. The issue has been ongoing for seven years so a great deal of suffering is taking place as a consequence of the inactivity of the sewage treatment plant.

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I will contact Galway County Council on any action on enforcement proceedings in the event it is not able to reach agreement with the developer but must take in charge this development, and to see if the bond is sufficient, in conjunction with the resources of the local authority, to deal with this problem. If any environmental problems with respect to water quality or public health issues have arisen in respect of the development, the Senator should bring them to the attention of the Department or the EPA. That would be important to bring the issue forward and resolve the problem.