Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 150: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the widespread concern in consumer, food retailing and many farming sectors regarding the sweepingly increased use of human sewage from public treatment plants in agriculture; if the Department of Health and Children or the Food Safety Authority were consulted before he gave effect to the existing human sewage in agriculture regulations of this Department; if, since then, his attention has been drawn to the repeatedly expressed fears of the acting head of the Food Safety Authority concerning dangers which it considers the application of raw sewage from smaller public treatment plants represents in terms of food safety and public health; if, in view of the growing disquiet, he will consider banning the practice here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18179/04]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Sewage sludge is an inevitable and potentially useful by-product of advanced waste water treatment processes. Overall, volumes of such sludge are increasing as a result of the major investment in waste water treatment facilities now under way as part of the national development plan. It is therefore desirable, and in accordance with EU requirements that sewage sludge should be reused wherever appropriate. Where sewage sludge is reused in agriculture it is subject to compliance with the Waste Management (Use of Sewage Sludge in Agriculture) Regulations 1998, as amended, which give effect to Council Directive 86/278/EC on the protection of the environment and particularly of the soil when sewage sludge is used in agriculture. These regulations specify a range of requirements for the safe use of the product, and prohibit its use in certain circumstances such as on land where fruit or vegetable crops are growing or on grasslands to be grazed within three weeks of such use.

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland has been fully informed of national sludge management policy and supports the measures being undertaken for its implementation. The authority considers that the requirements of the Waste Management (Use of Sewage Sludge in Agriculture) Regulations satisfy their concerns.