Written answers

Thursday, 20 October 2011

Department of Environment, Community and Local Government

Water and Sewerage Schemes

5:00 pm

Photo of Michael ColreavyMichael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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Question 27: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a failure to license alternative systems to supersede septic tanks in areas with poor porous ground has resulted in virtual shutdown of house building in rural areas of counties such as Sligo, Leitrim, Donegal, Cavan and Roscommon; if his further attention has been drawn to the fact that this will have a severe adverse impact on rural communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27912/11]

Photo of Phil HoganPhil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Appropriate measures to ensure that waste, including wastewater from septic tanks and proprietary waste systems, is recovered or disposed of without endangering human health or harming the environment, have been taken by my Department to address an ECJ judgment (C188/08) which found in October, 2009 that Ireland was in breach of Article 4 of the EU Waste Directive (2006/12/EC).

Implementation of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) new Code of Practice on Wastewater Treatment and Disposal Systems Serving Single Houses, as published in October 2009, is one such key measure.

Relevant elements of the Code of Practice, which sets out comprehensive requirements in relation to the design, installation and maintenance of on-site wastewater systems, have been called up for building control purposes in the Technical Guidance Document to Part H (Drainage and Waste Water Disposal) of the Building Regulations 1997-2011.

While the Code of Practice may pose engineering and planning challenges in certain parts of the country where soil and geological conditions create very difficult drainage conditions, it also sets out a number of potential technical solutions. These include innovative designs of proprietary wastewater treatment systems, and the consideration of discharges other than to sodden or otherwise unsuitable ground conditions, that can be used to ensure that development on suitable sites can proceed while protecting the environment.

The onus is on the installers, manufacturers or suppliers of alternative wastewater systems to demonstrate, with, where appropriate, independently certified test results from a recognised testing laboratory, that their system is capable, having regard to operating conditions in Ireland, of meeting the required EU and Irish performance standards.

My Department will continue to work proactively with local authorities in ensuring that the planning system takes proper account of river basin management plans, water quality legislation and new technology in assessing the on-site wastewater treatment and disposal system aspect of proposals for housing to meet the needs of rural communities.

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