Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 207: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the details of the new Environment Protection Authority regulations pertaining to percolation tests for once off rural dwellings; if testers will require re-training in order to carry out those tests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9360/10]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The EPA's new Code of Practice on waste water treatment and disposal systems serving Single Houses was published in October 2006 and refers to the suite of new European Standards for small wastewater treatment plans, EN 12566. The new Code of Practice updates previous guidance and sets out comprehensive requirements in relation to new on-site wastewater systems, including the methodology to be followed for the assessment of sites for single houses in unsewered areas, as well as procedures for the selection, installation and maintenance of wastewater treatment and disposal systems appropriate to conditions encountered on specific sites. A copy of the Code of Practice is available to view and download from www.epa.ie. My Department issued a circular letter to planning authorities in January 2010 regarding implementation of the EPA's new Code of Practice, which inter alia requests planning authorities to continue their practice of requiring that details of on-going proprietary waste water systems maintenance contracts with suppliers or expert contractors are provided as part of the planning application documentation, and that such contracts should be maintained by the applicants, developers or property owners as appropriate, as a condition of any planning permission or approval. While some site suitability test thresholds have increased, the procedures for undertaking tests have not changed substantially. Therefore, it is unlikely that significant retraining will be required. A copy of the circular is available to view in the Oireachtas Library and on the Department's website, www.environ.ie. It is intended to call up the EPA Code of Practice in the technical guidance document to Part H of the Building Regulations which are being reviewed and are out for public consultation, in substitution for SR: 6 of 1991 which will then be withdrawn by the National Standards Authority of Ireland. The renewed programme for Government includes a commitment to introduce a scheme for the licensing and inspection of septic tanks and other on-site wastewater treatment systems. My Department is chairing a task force to consider how the inspection of septic tanks should be carried out. Legislation will also be required to give effect to the new inspection regime. At this stage, while this matter is receiving priority attention, it is too early to estimate when the new arrangements will be operational.