Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 69: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 194 of 15 December 2010, the position regarding the introduction of such a grant scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5646/11]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The introduction of a grants scheme for any purpose must be managed within current budgetary constraints. Insofar, as support for the upgrading of septic tanks is concerned, the matter is under review in my Department, including in the context of finalising proposals to respond to the 2009 judgment of the European Court of Justice regarding Ireland's failure to adopt the necessary legislation to comply with Articles 4 and 8 of Council Directive 75/442/EEC (the Waste Directive) as regards domestic waste waters disposed of in the countryside through septic tanks and other individual waste water treatment systems.

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. The rate of grant available for Group Sewerage Schemes is €2,031.58 per house or 75% of the cost of the scheme, whichever is the lesser.