Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 May 2012
6Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government the reason for delays in the septic tank registration system; the timeline for the future implementation of the system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22103/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra17Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on the process for registration of septic tanks. [22120/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra20Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government if he will provide public funding to meet the cost to householders of upgrading their septic tanks to meet the agreed new set of standards. [22121/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra44Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government if he will provide an update in the proposed standards for septic tanks; and when the standards will be published. [22124/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 6, 17, 20 and 44 together.
The online and written facilities for the registration of domestic wastewater treatment systems are being developed by the Local Government Management Agency on behalf of local authorities. My Department is also examining a number of payment options to facilitate householders to the fullest extent possible in the registration process. I understand the programming work for the online system will be completed shortly. I have decided that when the registration commences, a reduced fee of €5 will be payable for the initial three months and that a fee of €50 will apply thereafter. Ample time will be provided for householders to comply with the requirement to register their on-site wastewater treatment systems. My Department will ensure a public information campaign, including details of how and when to register, will be carried out in advance of registration commencing.
I published the draft performance standards for septic tanks and other domestic wastewater treatment systems for public consultation on 1 March. The draft standards set out the responsibilities of owners of septic tanks and other systems, including requirements for the removal of sludge and ensuring systems are in working order and functioning properly. The public consultation process regarding the draft performance standards concluded on 30 March. In total, 165 submissions were received and these are being assessed in consultation with the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA. When this assessment has been completed, I will finalise the regulations which will give legal effect to the standards. While it is not possible to specify the dates for the commencement of the registration process or finalisation of the performance standards at preent, these matters are being given priority and I expect to be in a position to make the necessary regulations as soon as possible. At that stage, the relevant statutory instruments will be laid before each House of the Oireachtas in line with a previous commitment I gave and in accordance with section 18 of the Water Services Act 2007.
I have previously given a commitment that I will keep under consideration all options to provide financial support for householders whose systems are deemed, following inspection, to require substantial remediation or upgrading. Any decision in this regard will obviously have to take account of the nature of the inspections, the extent of the difficulties and problems which might arise from such inspections and relevant budgetary matters. A national risk-based inspection plan is being prepared by the EPA and local authorities will be responsible for carrying out inspections in their functional areas. I expect that inspections will start in 2013. Inspections may give rise to householders being advised to improve the maintenance of their systems or, in more serious situations, upgrading or remediation of their treatment systems may be required.
My party, Sinn Féin and some Independent Members tabled amendments on Committee Stage of the Water Services (Amendment) Bill which were debated at length, in which we sought to reduce the €50 charge relating to septic tanks. It made a mockery of the Oireachtas when the Minister announced, prior to a Fine Gael branch meeting at Dundrum House Hotel, that the charge was being reduced to €5.
That was our-----
I am afraid this is Question Time. In that context, the Minister should not interrupt. There is a time limit for these questions.
On Committee Stage, the Minister indicated that he could not accept our amendments because they would give rise to a charge on the Exchequer. It was disrespectful to the Oireachtas that he could not agree to our amendments to reduce the registration fee and that he then made an announcement in this regard on the "Six One" news programme. This matter has been dealt with in a very disjointed fashion. There was no reason people could not have registered their septic tanks when registering for the household charge.
Will the Deputy please ask a question? There is a time limit for these questions.
I am coming to it. This shows the disjointed approach being taken to some of the projects being rolled out by the Minister's Department. The Minister has indicated that the national risk-based assessment plan is being prepared by the EPA and will be rolled out by the local authorities. What is the position on the much discussed and promised grant aid scheme to assist householders who will be obliged to carry out improvement works?
Arising from the good decisions and progress made with the European Commission, which was very different to what was proposed by Fianna Fáil and the Green Party when in government, I was in position not to have universal inspection of septic tanks or compliance with a 2009 Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, code of practice. Instead, I was able to get a risk-based approach and a solution based on the Cavan model. Accordingly, we will not need as much money to administer the system as my predecessors would have made sure of taking from rural householders. The registration was important. I decided, however, it was not necessary to take €17 million from rural householders. All that is required for this particular scheme is €3 million to €4 million.
The risk-based approach, along with the sensible and pragmatic measures we got agreement on with the European Commission, flies in the face of what was proposed in the past by my predecessors. I am delighted with that result. We will ensure a pragmatic approach is taken and we have outlined in the standards how this will happen. The pragmatic approach and the agreement from the European Commission have come as a big surprise to some people.
As I stated in the reply, if grant assistance is required for remediation arising from an inspection, then we will consider it.
I call Deputy Stanley. I remind Deputies that on ordinary questions it is one minute per supplementary. We can go back again if required.
The Minister did not give a timeframe for when the regulations will be published. I understood they would be published at the start of April and the registration process would begin then.
The draft regulations were published.
When will the registration process begin?
Whenever we have the approval by the Oireachtas of the commitment I gave.
The Minister had a dig at me earlier that I do not support protecting the environment by having septic tanks working properly. The Minister knows what I have always said on that and my commitment to the environment.
The Deputy is doing the opposite, however.
There will be households in some of those high-risk areas which will need financial assistance. I urge the Minister to bring that forward. We want to protect water but if there are families caught out and they cannot afford remediation, there will be a need for financial assistance.
On the standards, the devil will be in the detail. When inspections commence, it is important the inspectors take a considered approach with householders. Initially, these will be carried out by engineers from local authorities which is good news because they know their local areas' circumstances. I hope the inspections are rolled out in a practical way and will not be an imposition on people.
We have come a long way when we do not have people suggesting we are going to have to buy land to comply with these regulations, have planning permission or the 2009 EPA code of practice. We have come a long way from Deputy Ó Cuív and others-----
We have to wait and see.
Holding public meetings around the country to misinform people is a lovely thing to do. I am delighted the doomsday scenarios presented are wrong.
The Minister is not in any position to be slapping himself on the back about anything but here he is cheerleading himself along. I do not see any of the Minister's fans on the backbenches today.
I am in favour of complying with the European Court of Justice judgment. Otherwise, the State would be paying massive amounts of fines. I am also in favour of clean water and good quality groundwater unlike Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin. I regret to say that. Deputies Niall Collins and Ferris have gone around at various meetings being against it.
Do not start with that.
On a point of order, a Cheann Comhairle, the Minister should withdraw that statement.
Sorry, Deputy, will you sit down?
No, I will not. He said we are not in favour of clean water.
That is very unfair.
Sorry Deputy, there is only one person in the Chair.
Will you ask him to withdraw that statement, a Cheann Comhairle?
Will you resume your seat? You will have chance tor reply in a moment.
I know Members opposite are sensitive about this because they have been at public meetings advocating people should not register, pay or comply with good practice to ensure clean water supply. What am I to do when I hear the views expressed here today in a rather hypocritical way? The greatest nonsense of all time is that those who advocated a universal septic tank inspection regime and for 2009 EPA regulations in the past are now saying the risk-based approach we have succeeded in getting from the European Commission is inadequate. I suppose the Members opposite are against the €5 registration fee.
Regarding Deputy Stanley's question, if a household requires financial assistance, I will not rule it out. However, we will not know that until the inspections are carried out in 2013.
I remind Deputies that this is Question Time and it is for asking questions. Will Deputy Niall Collins please ask a question?
Absolutely. I am going to ask the Minister to withdraw his statement in which he said we are not in favour of having clean water.
I am not in a position to do that.
There were public meetings where people were advocating-----
You will not withdraw it? That is a lie. You are telling a blatant lie.
Will the Deputy ask a question or else I will call Deputy Stanley?
I know the Minister is under pressure because he makes a mess of everything to which he turns his hand. He should not come in here claiming we are not in favour of clean water.
This is Question Time.
No, the Minister comes in here and makes a false-----
Sorry, Deputy, but you have to learn to respect the Chair. It is not me personally. It is-----
Does the Chair have respect for the truth?
The Chair is here-----
Does the Chair have respect for the truth?
You do not question what the Chair does. The Chair is here to bring order into debate.
Yes and the Minister told a lie.
I am asking the Deputy to comply with Standing Orders.
The Minister is lying when he says Fianna Fáil is not in favour of clean water.
There is no question in Deputy Niall Collin's name and I have allowed him to take it. The Deputy will now resume his seat. Actually, no Deputy in the Chamber submitted the questions we are dealing with.
I am just putting on the record of the House that the Minister is telling a lie. It is as simple as that.
Will the Minister clarify that from the first time I spoke on this I supported the risk-based approach------
Sorry, Deputy, you will not have any more statements. You have a question or you do not. I call Deputy Clare Daly.
I supported the risk-based approach and that is on the record of the House.
This is Question Time. Deputies ask questions; they do not make statements.
What about the Minister making a statement like that?
Deputy Niall Collins, you will not be called to speak if you are not careful because there are no questions in your name.
The Minister said that grant aid would be considered if required. By whom will it be considered? What will the criteria be, from what budget will he take the funding for this and what amount will it be?
As I said on several occasions, I cannot talk about grant assistance with anybody until such time as I know the nature of the problem. We will not know until the inspections are carried out. I know Deputy Clare Daly would like me to give her a rather blanket answer stating there will be financial assistance. Only when I know the extent of the problem will I consider grant aid. Deputy Clare Daly may want to write a blank cheque on behalf of the taxpayer. I will not be doing that.
It just means the Minister's promises of grant aid-----
As you know on the deadline for the household charge, I do not promise anything that I cannot deliver. You know I deliver.
You need not point your finger at me, Minister.
Both sides will address their remarks through the Chair. We will move on to Question No. 7.
I will certainly debate with you in any arena on this.
