asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Healths whether he will introduce legislation to enable county councils to require owners of property to connect houses which they own with local sewerage schemes where they are available.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Property Owners and Sewerage Schemes.
County councils are now the rural sanitary authorities for their respective areas, and they can exercise the powers conferred by the Public Health Acts to secure the connection of houses with the public sewerage system.
Is the Minister not aware that a certain local authority took legal action to compel property owners to connect their houses with the public sewerage scheme which had been introduced, and that the courts held that there was no obligation on the property owners to connect with the public sewerage scheme? Having regard to the fact that these public sewerage schemes are put in at considerable public and local expense, will the Minister take the necessary legislative steps to ensure that the law is put beyond any ambiguity, and that such wealthy property owners will be compelled to provide the tenants of their houses with the up-to-date sanitation which has been provided at the expense of the ratepayers and of the national exchequer?
I would suggest to the Deputy that he put down that Supplementary Question on the Order Paper for next week, and I will answer it.
I am sorry the Minister's brief is not as complete as it ought to be. Will the Minister undertake to examine the results of the efforts of the County Kildare Board of Health to compel property owners in Kildare town to connect with the public sewerage scheme, and when he sees the defects in the present legislation, will the Minister undertake to remedy the situation?
I am sorry, but Deputy Norton apparently put down one question and expects me to answer another. I have been asked whether I will introduce legislation to enable county councils to require owners of property to connect houses which they own with local sewerage schemes where they are available. I have now pointed out to the Deputy what, perhaps, he was not aware of before, that the county councils are now the rural sanitary authorities for their respective areas and that they can exercise the powers conferred by the Public Health Acts for the connection of houses with a public sewerage system. Therefore, I believe that the sanitary authority has power to enforce the provision of drainage for a house where that house is without sufficient provision for effectual drainage already.
Is the Minister contending that a county council or a board of health has legal power to compel a property owner to connect with an existing sewerage scheme any houses in his possession?
I have answered the question put.