Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to put back the latest date for registration under the Water Services Act, 2012, in view of the fact that no inspection plan has yet been published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52343/12]

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government when the inspections of septic tanks will commence; if there be grants available for person's who have to upgrade their tanks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52961/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 470 and 494 together.

The Water Services Acts 2007 and 2012 Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems (Registration ion) Regulations 2012 prescribe 1 February 2013 as the date by which owners of domestic waste water treatment systems must register their systems. Registration facilities have been available since 26 June 2012 and I consider that ample time is provided for owners to comply with the requirement to register. I have no plans to amend the date specified in the legislation.

The Water Services (Amendment) Act 2012 provides that the Environmental Protection Agency will make the National Ins Inspection Plan for domestic waste water treatment systems. A public consultation on the proposed plan was commenced by the Agency on 11 October 2012. Submissions received are currently being reviewed by the Agency with a view to finalising the Plan. A training course for persons who will be appointed to carry out inspections is also currently being finalised and this is being overseen by the Water Services Training Group. I understand that the Plan and the training course will be finalised shortly. The training course for inspectors will be rolled out to suitably qualified local authority staff in early 2013. This will be followed by the commencement of inspections, which will be based on the national inspection plan.

I have stated on a number of occasions that I am prepared to consider all possible options to provide financial support to householders whose wastewater treatment systems are deemed, following inspection under the new legislation, to require substantial remediation or upgrading. The provision of any financial support will have regard to the overall budgetary situation and to the financial position of the individual households concerned.