Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his plans for the regulation of contractors providing services to the owners of domestic septic tanks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45678/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Inspections of domestic waste water treatment systems under the Water Services (Amendment) Act 2012 will commence in 2013. Where a treatment system is found to be polluting and an advisory notice requiring that the problem is rectified is issued by the water services authority, the remediation work to be carried out will depend on the specific problem identified, the extent of the risk to public health or the environment and issues such as site size and the hydrological and geological conditions present. The selection of a competent contractor to carry the remediation works necessary will be a matter for the householder concerned. There are no plans to establish a panel of contractors for remediation works.

The Water Services Acts 2007 and 2012 (Domestic Wastewater Treatment Systems) Regulations 2012, which I made on 26 June, set out the requirements for the de-sludging of treatment systems. Subject to certain limited exceptions, de-sludging must be carried out using a contractor authorised under the Waste Management (Collection Permit) Regulations 2007 as amended. Details of permitted contractors are available from the local authorities.