Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 April 2013
425. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount of money being allocated for septic tank upgrades in 2013 ; when inspections will begin and the total number of inspections expected to take place in 2013, 2014 and 2015. [18290/13]
View answer458. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide information regarding the code of practice being drawn up for septic tank inspectors; the dealings his Department has had with the Environmental Protection Agency on this matter; when he expects inspectors will be appointed and be in a position to start conducting inspections in particular local authorities (details supplied);; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19027/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 425 and 458 together.
The Water Services (Amendment) Act 2012 assigns responsibility to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to make a National Inspection Plan for domestic wastewater treatment systems. The National Inspection Plan 2013: Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems was adopted and published by the EPA in February 2013. The Plan provides for a minimum of 1,000 inspections to be carried out during the twelve-month period commencing in July 2013. It is a function of the water services authorities (the 34 county and city councils) to implement the Inspection Plan in their functional areas. Details of the minimum number of inspections for each council area are included in the Plan. The number of inspections for 2014 and 2015 will be a matter for the EPA and I have no direct role in that regard.
The Local Authority Services National Training Group, in consultation with my Department, the EPA and the water services authorities, is overseeing the development and delivery of a training course for inspectors. The course will shortly be available to water services authority personnel who meet the qualification criteria set out in the Water Services Act 2007 (Registration and Inspections) Regulations, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas library. The EPA is responsible for the appointment of the inspectors who must have satisfactorily completed the training course.
In December 2012 I announced my intention to introduce a grant scheme to provide financial assistance to households whose septic tanks and other domestic wastewater treatment systems are deemed to require remediation following an inspection under the Water Services (Amendment) Act 2012. Provision for the scheme is being made from my Department’s Vote in 2013. The grant scheme will only apply to owners of treatment systems which are the subject of an Advisory Notice issued by a water services authority following an inspection carried out under the 2012 Act. Full details of the scheme will be set out in regulations which I will make in advance of inspections commencing.
