Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide grant aid for the upgrade of septic tanks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55421/12]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to cater for the handling of domestic sewerage sludge from septic tanks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55422/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 302 and 303 together.

With reference to the issue of grant aid, I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 172 and 173 on 29 November 2012 . The position is unchanged.

The Water Services Act s 2007 and 2012 (Domestic Waste water Treatment Systems) Regulations 2012 , which I made on 26 June 2012 , set out the requirements for the desludging of domestic waste water treatment systems. A working group comprising the Environmental Protection Agency, the local authorities and my Department has been established to examine the management and disposal of sewage sludge from domestic wastewater treatment systems arising from implementation of the Water Services (Amendment) Act 2012. The working group will prepare a report to include recommendations regarding the development of a national approach to dealing with sewage sludge from domestic waste water treatment systems.