Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 25: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans to introduce a grant to upgrade septic tanks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44225/10]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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While the Programme for Government included a commitment to introduce a scheme of support for the replacement and upgrade of septic tanks older than 15 years with newer systems, it is no longer feasible to introduce such a grant scheme in the light of budgetary constraints.

Under my Department's Rural Water Programme, grants are available to provide groups of households with the opportunity of connecting to public sewerage networks through communal sewage collection systems that are, in turn, connected to local authority sewers. Alternatively, the communal sewage collection system may be connected to sewage treatment facilities provided by the groups themselves. A grant of 75% of the approved cost, subject to a limit of €2,031.58 per domestic connection, whichever is the lesser, is available for eligible works. Details of these grants may be obtained from the local authorities, to whom the administration of the Rural Water Programme has been devolved since 1997.