Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 1 Jul 1998

Vol. 493 No. 4

Written Answers. - Water and Sewerage Schemes.

Seán Haughey

Question:

123 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the number of local authorities which have declared the combined drains serving all of the industrial estates and enterprise centres in their jurisdiction to be sewers under section 22 of the Local Government (Water Pollution) Act, 1990; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16369/98]

Seán Haughey

Question:

124 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the number of local authorities which have taken charge of the combined drains serving all of the industrial estates and enterprise centres in their jurisdiction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16370/98]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment and Local Government (Mr. D. Wallace)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 123 and 124 together.

A combined drain is defined as a drainage pipe or system of pipes that is not vested in or controlled by a sanitary authority and is used to convey trade effluent or other matter, other than storm water, from two or more premises to any waters or a sewer. Section 22 of the Local Government (Water Pollution) (Amendment) Act, 1990, gives a sanitary authority power to declare a combined drain to be a sewer for the purposes of the Local Government (Water Pollution) Acts, 1977 and 1990. Exercise of this power is a matter for each sanitary authority, and while authorities have been encouraged to avail of section 22 as appropriate, comprehensive statistics in this regard are not available in my Department.