Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 April 2012
923 Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the measures in place to ensure that all septic tanks installed comply with the EN 12566-1 and comply with Annex A of the Building Regulations; the measures in place to prevent companies selling a product that does not qualify; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19373/12]
View answer924 Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of septic tank manufacturers that are registered to produce a tank that complies with the EN 12566-1 and complies with Annex A of the Building Regulations in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19374/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 923 and 924 together.
The Building Regulations set out the legal requirements for the design and construction of buildings, including dwellings. Compliance with the Regulations is the responsibility of the owner or builder of a building. Enforcement of the Regulations is the responsibility of the 37 local building control authorities who are empowered to carry out inspections and initiate enforcement proceedings, where considered necessary.
Part H of the Second Schedule to the Building Regulations 1997 to 2011 sets out the requirements for the disposal of foul and surface water. The related Technical Guidance Document (TGD H 2011) provides guidance on how these requirements can be achieved in practice.
In relation to the use of septic tanks in particular, TGD H states that "Septic Tanks must conform to I.S. EN 12566 Part 1 or 4 including their national annexes and comply with the EPA Code of Practice — Section 7."
The national annexes were recently completed and published by NSAI, in consultation with my Department and others. They set out clearly the performance required by septic tanks when used in Ireland, and tested in accordance with I.S. EN 12566 Part 1 or 4.
Under the EU Construction Products Directive, any product tested to a harmonised standard can be put on the market in a Member State, including Ireland. While it is not possible to indicate the number of septic tank units so tested by approved testing bodies throughout the EU, my Department is currently aware of four septic tank units which have been tested for, and declared to be in compliance with, current Irish performance standards.
925 Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding Bruff sewerage scheme in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19375/12]
View answerThe Water Services Investment Programme 2010-2013 provides for the development of a comprehensive range of new water services infrastructure in County Limerick. The Programme includes contracts under construction and to commence to the value of some €29 million in Limerick during the period of the Programme. However, the Bruff Sewerage Scheme was not amongst the priority contracts and schemes selected for inclusion in the current Programme.
The Programme aims to prioritise projects that target environmental compliance issues and support economic and employment growth. A key input to the development of the Programme was the assessment of needs prepared by local authorities, including Limerick County Council, in response to my Department's request to the authorities in 2009 to review and prioritise their proposals for new capital works in their areas. These were subsequently appraised in the Department in the context of the funds available and key criteria that complemented those used by the authorities. Inevitably, through this process, certain projects that had been proposed had to give way to others that were more strategically important at that time.
Progress under the Water Services Investment Programme was reviewed in mid-2011 and through this process, consideration was given to any newly emerging priority contracts and schemes submitted by local authorities for addition to the Programme. No proposal for the Bruff Sewerage Scheme was received from Limerick County Council in response to the review process.
