Vol. 431 No. 1
8 Mr. L. Burke asked the Minister for the Environment the action, if any, he proposes to take on the conclusions of the Green 2000 Advisory Group report about the pollution of groundwater supplies, with particular reference to pollution from septic tank systems and landfill sites.
13 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for the Environment the action, if any, he proposes to take on the conclusions of the Green 2000 Advisory Group report about the pollution of groundwater supplies, with particular reference to pollution from septic tank systems and landfill sites.
39 Mr. Carey asked the Minister for the Environment the action, if any, he proposes to take on the conclusions of the Green 2000 Advisory Group report about the pollution of groundwater supplies, with particular reference to pollution from septic tank systems and landfill sites.
42 Mr. Crowley asked the Minister for the Environment the action, if any, he proposes to take on the conclusions of the Green 2000 Advisory Group report about the pollution of groundwater supplies, with particular reference to pollution from septic tank systems and landfill sites.
55 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for the Environment the action, if any, he proposes to take on the conclusions of the Green 2000 Advisory Group report about the pollution of groundwater supplies, with particular reference to pollution from septic tank systems and landfill sites.
82 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment the action, if any, he proposes to take on the conclusions of the Green 2000 Advisory Group report about the pollution of groundwater supplies, with particular reference to pollution from septic tank systems and landfill sites.
, Wexford): I propose to take Questions Nos. 8, 13, 39, 42, 55 and 82 together.
Groundwater is a major renewable resource which already provides some 25 per cent of drinking water supplies in Ireland. The planning of my Department's water and sanitary services programme is taking increasing account of groundwater potential and the need to protect and maintain high groundwater quality.
A comprehensive statutory control regime is already in place under the Water Pollution Acts to enable local authorities to protect groundwaters from the entry of polluting matter. Discharges of trade and sewage effluents to groundwaters are subject to licensing and there are specific controls to prevent groundwater pollution arising from the discharge of harmful substances. Effluent discharges of List I substances, the most harmful, and any such discharges arising from disposal or tipping operations are prohibited. Substantial powers are available to local authorities to deal with any pollution which may arise.
Septic tank pollution is a common threat to groundwaters. Revised standard recommendations for septic tank systems, drawn up by the National Standards Authority of Ireland, were notified to all planning and sanitary authorities in 1992, with the request to have regard to these recommendations in operating planning control.
As regards landfill sites, there are longstanding guidelines from my Department to local authorities on selection, management and operational aspects. Further requirements on landfill, which are being developed at EC level, are likely to include more stringent controls on landfill practice and national waste disposal policy is being adopted in line with these prospective requirements. The Environmental Protection Agency will have a statutory role in determining criteria and procedures for landfill site selection, management and operation, and in supervising the monitoring of sites by local authorities. In addition, I intend that new waste legislation, currently in preparation, will provide further controls on landfill operations.
Does the Minister agree with the finding of Green 2000 that many of the landfill sites are badly located and badly managed?
(Wexford): Local authorities are the monitoring bodies for landfill sites. There has been a substantial reduction in the number of waste disposal sites between 1984 and 1989 — the number has decreased by 25 per cent. The Taoiseach, and the Minister for the Environment, stated in a debate that they were prepared to accept the recommendations of Green 2000.
A number of other Deputies tabled questions on this subject. I am anxious to call them.
They are all Fine Gael Deputies.
That is right. I want to share the time with the Deputy's colleagues.
While we welcome magpies which have landed in our nests, we hope they will maintain the standards that we wish to maintain.
So long as he does not fly over the cuckoo's nest, we do not mind.
I note that the Minister did not answer the last question. Does the Minister agree with the finding in the Green 2000 report that we do not have adequate research on either the status of our existing ground water supplies or the threats to them? Does he agree that ground water is our most fundamental natural resource because without clean water life cannot survive? Would he agree that in the event of nuclear fallout ground water will be the only safe water available to us because surface water will be polluted? Would he agree, therefore, that this issue should have top priority in environmental planning and that we need a comprehensive map of ground water supplies in Ireland as quickly as possible? Would the Minister agree that circulating standards for new septic tanks to planning authorities is useless if existing tanks are polluting ground water, and that something should be done about existing septic tanks?
(Wexford): I recognise the importance of ground water supplies. Under the 1977 and 1990 Acts local authorities have responsibility to protect ground water from pollution. Information on the quality of ground water is being gathered by local authorities as part of the regime being put in place to implement an EC directive concerning the protection of water.
The Minister read that out. He is not answering the question.
(Wexford): There have been a number of advances by the Government. The Environmental Protection Agency, which has been established, will have responsibility in that area. A circular on new standards and better planning for septic tanks has been sent to local authorities and they have set about implementing the standards laid down. I accept that in the past septic tanks caused problems. I hope that, because of the standards laid down by the Department in conjunction with the local authorities, there will be a vast improvement in that area.
What about Green 2000?
Order.
What an utterly hopeless reply. It is patently obvious that the Minister did not read Green 2000 and has not prepared for Question Time. This is the worst I have seen for a long time in reply to parliamentary questions. This Minister is incompetent.
The Chair will be obeyed by both sides of the House. I am calling Deputy Finucane.
Did the Minister read Green 2000?
Order, please, Deputy Bruton.
It is regrettable that Ministers are so programmed in relation to alternative responses that they cannot even react to direct questions. Will the Minister of State agree, in relation to the EC Directives dealing with ground water supplies which were introduced in 1988, that many group water schemes which came into existence in the sixties are unsatisfactory in terms of the criteria laid down and that this will have implications for milk producers having regard to the new milk hygiene regulations? Will the Minister of State reassure organisations responsible for group water schemes, who have submitted requests for finance to carry out improvements, that it will be made available to meet present day criteria?
(Wexford): As the Deputy is aware, in recent weeks the Minister made a number of announcements in relation to group water schemes. Indeed, I answered questions in the House recently on this matter. Further announcements will be made and money will be made available.
The Department of the Environment has always given priority to the need to eliminate pollution in any area where there is a difficulty with a ground water supply. Will the Minister of State give an undertaking that when local authorities put forward proposals in an effort to eliminate pollution where there is a clear problem with a ground water supply they will be given priority in respect of funding in 1993-94 and subsequent years?
(Wexford): I can give the Deputy that assurance.
In relation to infill sites will the Minister of State accept that in far too many cases in the past, in terms of location, maintenance and management of such sites, at best local authorities were careless and indifferent? Will he further accept that very often the gamekeeper is also the poacher? With the advent of the Environmental Protection Agency will the Minister of State spell out clearly its role in achieving higher standards? That is the key question——
That should be adequate, Deputy.
——while improvements must be made.
(Wexford): I accept that in the past landfill sites were not managed in the way they should have been. I hope, however, that in future, with the aid of the Cohesion Fund, we will have state of the art landfill sites. There is such a site in Athlone while two applications have been received from local authorities for funding from the Cohesion Fund. I expect major improvements in that area in future. The Environmental Protection Agency will have a statutory role in determining the criteria and procedures for landfill site selection and will supervise the way in which such sites are monitored by local authorities in future. This should lead to major improvements.
Is the Minister of State aware that objectors to the proposed landfill site at Kill, County Kildare, who are supported by the Minister's colleague sitting beside him, have warned that this site poses a threat to the water supply in Dublin? Has the Minister of State checked this matter? Can he state whether the proposed landfill site at Kill, County Kildare, poses a threat to the water supply in Dublin?
The Deputy is raising a specific matter.
It relates to water supplies and landfill sites; it is relevant.
The Deputy is raising a specific matter which is worthy of a separate question.
It relates directly to ground water supplies and landfill sites.
It does indeed, Deputy but this is a general question and you are going from the general to the specific.
It is the biggest landfill site in the country.
(Wexford): The landfill site at Kill, County Kildare, will be subject to all planning conditions.
Does it pose a threat to the water supply?
All the answers of the Minister of State have been aspirational; he has repeatedly used the term "in the future" but he has not told us when. When will the Environmental Protection Agency be given the responsibility to which he referred? Will all the recommendations in the Green 2000 report relating to ground water supplies be included in the waste Bill and, if so, when?
(Wexford): As the Deputy is aware, the chief executive and the four man board of the Environmental Protection Agency have been appointed. We expect to see the policy implemented in full by the end of the year.
This year?
In 1993?
(Wexford): By the end of this year.
What does the Minister of State propose to do about the threat posed to ground water supplies by existing landfill sites and septic tanks? Is he willing to sanction a pilot scheme in one local authority area to meet the existing threat? Will he state when the system of licensing in regard to discharges into ground water was introduced? Is he aware that his statement directly contradicts the Green 2000 report in which it is stated that there is no such licensing system? How did the Green 2000 committee get the wrong information?
(Wexford): What was the first part of the Deputy's question?
What does the Minister of State propose to do about the threat posed by existing landfill sites and septic tanks?
We are having an element of repetition; they were referred to earlier.
(Wexford): As the Deputy is aware, it is the responsibility of local authorities to monitor existing landfill sites. The Deputy's suggestion that there should be a pilot scheme in one local authority area——
To remedy the problems; they do not have the money.
Their planning sections do not have the manpower to enforce planning decisions.
The Minister of State knows that.
Questions have been asked; let us hear the reply.
(Wexford): It is their responsibility to monitor landfilled sites. The Deputy's suggestion in regard to a pilot scheme can be considered.
That is pure theory and means nothing. What about the inaccuracy?
