Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)
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Question 145: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans for the introduction of a septic tank charge for single house waste water treatment systems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14612/11]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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In October 2009, the European Court of Justice ruled that Ireland failed to adopt the necessary legislation to comply with Articles 4 and 8 of Council Directive 75/442/EEC, known as the Waste Directive, regarding domestic wastewaters disposed of in the countryside through septic tanks and other individual wastewater treatment systems. The Government recently approved the urgent drafting of a Bill to provide for the establishment of a new system for the inspection and monitoring of the performance of all septic tanks and other on-site waste water treatment systems. The Bill will be published as soon as possible and my intention will be to pursue its early enactment.

Insofar as support for the upgrading of septic tanks is concerned, the introduction of a grants scheme for any purpose must be managed within current budgetary constraints. The matter is being considered by my Department in the context of developing the overall response to the ECJ judgment.