Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 236: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the grant aid or financial assistance available to households who have to upgrade their septic tank and sewerage treatment systems. [10912/11]

Tony McLoughlin (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 255: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the consideration he is giving to the licensing of septic tanks relating to one off houses in the countryside and when he proposes to proceed in this matter; if he is considering through any government or local government agency providing house holders of limited means grant aid towards the cost of upgrading any waste water treatment units. [10570/11]

Tony McLoughlin (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 256: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the Environmental Protection Agency will consider undertaking a review of the 2010 Code of Practice: Waste water Treatment Systems for Single Houses before the end of 2011; if the EPA were to conduct a review, if this would include a recommendation of treatment systems for specific soil types>90 referred to in section 6.5 in the code rather than the current recommendation that such sites may be deemed suitable for treatment system discharging to surface water in accordance with a Water Pollution Act licence. [10571/11]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 236, 255 and 256 together.

In October 2009, the European Court of Justice ruled that Ireland failed to adopt the necessary legislation to comply with Articles 4 and 8 of Council Directive 75/442/EEC, known as the Waste Directive, regarding domestic waste waters disposed of in the countryside through septic tanks and other individual waste water treatment systems. I expect to announce the details of proposed legislation to address the judgment, following Government consideration of the matter.

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, this matter is being considered by my Department in the context of developing the overall response to the ECJ judgment.

The question of carrying out a review of the Environmental Protection Agency's Code of Practice: Waste Water Treatment Systems Serving Single Houses is a matter for the Agency. The Agency is authorised under Section 76 of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Act, 1992 (as amended), to prepare and publish codes of practice for the purpose of providing guidance with respect to compliance with any enactment or otherwise, for the purposes of environmental protection. The Code stipulates that site suitability assessors should carry out all assessments in accordance with the guidance provided in the Code and that the site suitability assessment methodology set out in the Code should be used by planning authorities to satisfy the requirements of Article 22 (c) of the Planning and Development Regulations, 2006. The EPA has indicated that the Code of Practice will be subject to ongoing review with regard to emerging on-site wastewater treatment system technologies. However, the frequency and nature of such reviews are matters for the EPA.

It should be noted that the Code of Practice provides that where a site is deemed unsuitable for discharge to ground, any alternative options may be discussed with the relevant planning authority. The Code of Practice also provides that innovative products and technologies may be used in Ireland if they have the appropriate certification, are fit for purpose in the conditions in which they are used and meet the performance requirements of the Code.

Finally, I understand that the EPA is funding a research project regarding the use of on-site wastewater treatment systems in low permeability soils and subsoils. This project may contribute solutions to the difficulties posed by sites with difficult percolation conditions.