Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 October 2004
246 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he proposes to introduce regulations to make acceptable site suitability assessment reports from chartered engineers regarding septic tanks in order to eliminate a situation in which planners often override reports from consultant chartered engineers. [23803/04]
View answerDecisions on whether to grant or refuse planning permission and the conditions, if any, to be attached to such permissions are the responsibility of the manager of the relevant planning authority, based on the relevant information including assessments from planners or other professionals.
My Department issued a circular letter to planning authorities on 31 July 2003 which dealt with groundwater quality in the context of planning decisions. The circular reminded planning authorities that in assessing planning applications they should consider relevant Government and ministerial policies, as well as the proper planning and sustainable development of the area. The attention of planning authorities was drawn to the vital importance of good siting and design of necessary development in rural areas.
They were also reminded that the current standard for domestic effluent treatment and disposal from single dwelling houses is set out in recommendation SR6 of 1991, which was drawn up by the National Standards Authority of Ireland. Reference was also made to the Environmental Protection Agency's Manual on Treatment Systems for Single Houses, published in 2000, which is designed to help planning authorities, builders and others to deal with the complexities of on-site systems, including newer packaged systems. This manual is being revised.
The circular stated that the assessment of site conditions is critical to ensuring that new development does not adversely affect water quality, specifically groundwater quality, and that site assessors need specific training in this regard. The importance of the installation of on-site systems — conventional septic tank systems and innovative effluent treatment systems — in accordance with the specifications and instructions of manufacturers or suppliers, as well as the terms and conditions of planning permissions, was also emphasised. The circular stated that innovative effluent treatment systems should be certified by the Irish Agrément Board, or by the agrément board or equivalent of an EEA member state, where the latter certificate ensures in use an equivalent level of safety and suitability.
