Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 16 January 2013
644. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when the manual for the inspection of private waste water systems will be approved by the Environmental Protection Agency and the inspection plan for private waste water systems under the Water Services Act 2012 will he approved by him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1104/13]
View answer700. Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if a specific timescale has been given to local authorities in which to inspect septic tanks. [1841/13]
View answer701. Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in view of the expertise that will be required to carry out inspections of septic tanks, if he has issued a directive to local authorities as to who and how these inspections will be carried out. [1842/13]
View answer702. Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if a directive regarding operational details of septic tank inspections has been given to local authorities in the event of contractors carrying out inspections. [1843/13]
View answer703. Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the operational details in broad terms regarding an inspector carrying out inspections on septic tanks. [1844/13]
View answer704. Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if a directive has been given to local authorities on the way contractors carrying out inspections on septic tanks will be regulated and licensed. [1845/13]
View answer705. Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the way local authorities will regulate the work of contractors carrying out inspections on septic tanks. [1846/13]
View answer706. Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if contractors will require a special licence to carry out septic tank inspections. [1847/13]
View answer707. Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if contractors will have to carry particular forms of identity in order to gain permission to come onto people's land to carry out septic tank inspections. [1848/13]
View answer708. Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount of notification a householder will be given before a septic tank inspection takes place. [1849/13]
View answer709. Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if there is any form of formal complaints follow-up or disputes resolution process for septic tank owners unhappy with remedial work carried out. [1850/13]
View answer712. Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if local authorities will be given additional funding in order to offset the cost of hiring contractors or will this cost be offset by existing budgets in respect of septic tank inspections. [1853/13]
View answer723. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the assurances he can give that his proposed risk based assessment of on-site waste water treatment plants will satisfy the EU water quality directive. [1969/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 644, 700 to 709, inclusive, 712 and 723 together.
The Water Services (Amendment) Act 2012 provides that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will make a National Inspection Plan for domestic wastewater treatment systems. The plan is being drawn up to highest international standards and in accordance with the Recommendation for Minimum Criteria for Environmental Inspections which is an EU-approved system for the consistent implementation and enforcement of Community environmental law in all EU Member States. I understand that the Plan is very close to being finalised by the Agency. My Department will continue to liaise with the European Commission to ensure full compliance with our obligations.
A training course for the local authority personnel who will be appointed to carry out inspections under the new legislation is currently being finalised and this is being overseen by the Water Services Training Group. The training course will be extended to suitably qualified local authority staff over the coming months. Inspections will commence later this year. The inspections will be carried out under the national inspection plan, in accordance with directions issued by the EPA, which is the supervisory body for the purposes of implementation of the legislation. The local authority personnel assigned to inspect on-site treatment systems under the legislation will be appointed by the EPA as required under Section 70E of the Act . They will be required to meet criteria regarding professional or technical qualifications and to have completed the training course. The revenue from the registration fees payable by owners of domestic waste water treatment systems will be available to local authorities to meet the costs of managing the inspection regime.
The 2012 Act provides that at least 10 working days’ notice must be provided to householders if their treatment system is to be inspected. The Act also contains a comprehensive appeals procedure for householders who are aggrieved with an inspection. Inspectors will be required to carry identification and to present this on request to householders.
