Vol. 449 No. 7
122 Dr. O'Hanlon asked the Minister for the Environment the number of effluent discharge licences issued in 1994 in respect of discharges to sewers and discharges to waters; the number of holders of such licences paying a direct contribution towards the provision of effluent treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4299/95]
Details of the numbers of licences in force unde the Water Pollution Acts, 1977 and 1990 are published on an annual basis in my Department's Environment Bulletin, copies of which are available in the Oireachtas Library. There were 688 licences for discharges to waters and 1,086 licences for discharges to sewers in force at 31 December 1993. Details are given in Environment Bulletin No. 25.
Contributions may be required by sanitary authorities (by way of conditions attached to licences) towards the costs of monitoring, treating and disposing of discharges to sewers, but details of such contributions are not available in my Department.
In December 1994, the Economic and Social Research Institute published a study, commissioned by my Department, which examines private industry's use of, and payment for, public waste water treatment facilities from which it directly benefits. The study recommends, inter alia, a more formalised charging system to replace the ad hoc capital contribution arrangements which have evolved over time. The study proposals and their implications are currently under consideration in my Department and will form the basis of a wider consultative process with a view to informing future policy in this area.
