Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 July 2004
319 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has to raise the group sewerage scheme to that of group water schemes to assist the development of environmentally friendly rural policy and to assist areas in which septic tanks have become aged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20899/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Rural Water Monitoring Committee is currently overseeing the implementation of a pilot programme by local authorities to test a range of new, small-scale waste water collection and treatment systems. Twelve villages in six counties have been selected as locations for the pilot programme under which appointed contractors will design, build and operate the infrastructure over a 20 year period. Tenders are awaited at present from the short-listed contractors.
Subject to a satisfactory outcome to the pilot testing, the National Rural Water Monitoring Committee envisages a potential role for group sewerage schemes in the collection of domestic wastewater from households outside the immediate catchment of such treatment systems. Confirmation of such a role for group sewerage schemes and any review of the associated grants must await the outcome of the pilot programme.
