Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 253: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the grants available for households to update or replace their septic tanks; if there are additional grants available for pensioners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14359/11]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

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. The Government recently approved the urgent drafting of a Bill to provide for the establishment of a new system for the inspection and monitoring of the performance of all septic tanks and other on-site waste water treatment systems. The Bill will be published as soon as possible and my intention will be to pursue its early enactment.

Insofar as support for the upgrading of septic tanks is concerned, the introduction of a grants scheme for any purpose must be managed within current budgetary constraints. The matter is being considered by my Department in the context of developing the overall response to the ECJ judgment.

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

A comprehensive range of new water services infrastructure has been approved for County Sligo and County Leitrim in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2010-2012, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas Library. The total value of contracts underway and those proposed for commencement during the period of the Programme is some €49.6 million in County Sligo and €29 million in County Leitrim.

An integral part of the Water Services Investment Programme 2010-2012 is the annual review process under which the Programme will be reviewed and updated annually to allow for any re-prioritisation required. My Department wrote to all local authorities at the end of March 2011 in relation to the annual review. The deadline for receipt of returns was 21 April 2011. Given the short time which has passed since the extensive review of the Programme was completed in 2009/2010, and having regard to the ongoing pressure on Exchequer funding generally, it is anticipated that only minor adjustments will be made to the Programme at this stage.

As part of this review, Sligo County Council and Leitrim County Council have proposed some additional contracts for inclusion in the programme and these are currently being evaluated by the Department. It is envisaged that a decision will be conveyed to both Councils in relation to their proposals by the end of June 2011.