Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 57: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the percentage of the cost his Department will provide for the sewerage system in Carrickmacross, County Monaghan; his views on whether it is a difficult period, especially in the Border areas, for industry and other sectors to make a contribution towards same; his further views on increasing the percentage from his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10079/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The Carrickmacross Sewerage Scheme, involving the upgrading of the collection system and the construction of a new treatment plant, is included for funding in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007-2009, at an estimated cost of €22m. In accordance with the requirements of the EU Water Framework Directive, all projects funded under this Programme require that the marginal capital cost of servicing non-domestic consumers should be met by the non-domestic sector. The charging of the marginal cost to the non-domestic sector represents a reasonable charge for the provision of a costly service by the State to that sector.

Final decisions in relation to the contribution that my Department will make towards the cost of the Carrickmacross Sewerage Scheme have yet to be taken.

Ulick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 58: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the analysis his Department has conducted of septic tanks installed here; the number of substandard tanks in existence; the effect these tanks are having on water supplies; his plans to remedy this source of pollution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10201/09]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 80: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the steps he has taken to deliver the programme for Government commitment in relation to assisting the replacement of septic tanks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10151/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 58 and 80 together.

Septic tanks are the long established means of sewage treatment for houses in rural areas not served by a public sewerage scheme. The results of the last Census of Population indicated that about 418,000 houses, or 32% of the total stock of just over 1.3 million houses, were served by septic tanks in 2006.

In its Water Quality 2004-2006 Report published in 2008, the EPA identified discharges from municipal waste water treatment works and from agricultural activities as the principal suspected causes of water pollution. The report also noted that microbial pathogens are now more prevalent in groundwater sources, largely from organic waste sources, and that these can pose a threat to human health. The Agency, therefore, concluded that greater attention needs to be given to groundwater protection, and in particular to prevention of pollution at source including from septic tanks. My Department is currently examining options for a system of monitoring and inspection of septic tanks in order to protect water quality from potential pollution from septic tanks.

Site conditions play an important role in how effectively septic tanks can operate. The existing standards for septic tanks are set out in Recommendations for Domestic Effluent Treatment and Disposal from a Single Dwelling House (S.R.6 of 1991), published by the NSAI in 1991 and incorporated in Part H of the Building Regulations dealing with Drainage and Waste Water Disposal. The aim of these standards is to achieve satisfactory practice in the design, construction and maintenance of septic tank drainage systems. The EPA is currently developing an updated code of practice for waste water treatment systems for single houses which will incorporate the requirements of new European Standards due to come into force on 1 July 2009. As soon as the EPA completes its work, I will incorporate the new Code of Practice under Part H of the Building Regulations.

Section 70 of the Water Services Act 2007 places a duty of care on the occupier of a premises or, if unoccupied, the owner, to ensure that waste water from the premises does not cause nuisance or risk to human health or the environment. Section 22 of 2007 Act confers extensive powers of inspection, investigation and enforcement to water services authorities to protect water quality, including powers to serve notice on a person requiring that person to take specified measures to prevent or control water pollution. The National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) recommends that septic tanks should be inspected and emptied twice a year.

The Programme for Government includes a commitment in regard to a scheme of support for the replacement and upgrade of septic tanks older than 15 years with newer systems. While my Department has been examining the conditions which might attach to such a scheme, the timeframe for pursuing this commitment will remain under ongoing review, having regard to current budgetary constraints.