Written answers

Tuesday, 17 February 2015

Department of Environment, Community and Local Government

Septic Tank Inspections

Photo of Finian McGrathFinian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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503. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will confirm that in cases where recently built single houses with individual sewerage systems have failed inspections as a result of deficient installations and where the owners do not have the funds necessary to rectify the problems, even with the aid of the existing grant, where the responsibility lies of the local authorities and the State, in the context of the public health and environmental issues which arise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6943/15]

Photo of Alan KellyAlan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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Local authorities carry out inspections of septic tanks and similar systems for a variety of reasons, including water quality issues at drinking water sources or within designated shellfish or bathing water catchments and arising from reports of pollution from members of the public. Separately, inspections are carried out based on the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) National Inspection Plan 2013: Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems,which uses a risk-based methodology such as densities of individual treatment systems across the numerous hydrological and geological settings in Ireland and the locations of sensitive groundwater or surface water receptors. Selection of treatment systems for inspection under the EPA's plan is carried out by the local authorities using an IT system (which utilises WebGIS information) developed by the EPA.

Local authorities have all appropriate powers of inspection, investigation and enforcement under the Water Services Act 2007 and under the Local Government (Water Pollution) Acts 1977 and 1990 to protect water quality, public health and the environment from risks posed by failing on-site waste water treatment systems. It is a matter for each local authority to determine the most appropriate course of action when dealing with pollution incidents and related risks to public health and the environment.

Section 70 of the Water Services Act 2007 places a duty of care on the owner of a premises to ensure that their waste water treatment systems are kept so as not to cause, or be likely to cause, a risk to human health or the environment, including waters, the atmosphere, land, soil, plants or animals, or create a nuisance through odours. The duty of care provisions have been augmented by the Water Services (Amendment) Act 2012 and associated regulations. Any person whose treatment system fails an inspection or, in the absence of an inspection, considers that their treatment system constitutes, or may constitute, a risk to human health or the environment is responsible for having any necessary remediation works carried out without delay.

The Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems (Financial Assistance) Regulations 2013, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas library, brought into operation a grants scheme to assist with the cost of remediation of septic tanks and domestic waste water treatment systems which are deemed, following inspection under the EPA's National Inspection Plan and the subsequent issue of an Advisory Notice by the local authority, to require repair or upgrading. Full details of the scheme, including eligibility criteria, are set out in the explanatory leaflet and application form published on my Department's website at:

There are no plans to extend or to vary the terms and conditions of the grant scheme.

Householders who do not meet the eligibility criteria included in the above regulations but wish to remediate or upgrade their on-site treatment systems may qualify for relief under the Home Renovation Incentive (HRI) Scheme introduced under Section 5 of the Finance (No. 2) Act 2013. The HRI scheme covers main residence repairs, renovations and improvements, including the repair or replacement of septic tanks. The scheme is administered by the Revenue Commissioners and full details are published on Revenue's website at:

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