Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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239. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if it is possible to combine the grant for septic tanks with the grant for group sewerage schemes, where septic tanks have failed inspections and where they are close to the current foul main, but where the current grant under the group sewerage scheme is insufficient to make the project viable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13753/15]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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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 individual 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. Where an inspection identifies risks to human health or the environment, the possibility of connection to any nearby public sewer will of course feature when considering the remediation works required.

The qualification criteria for the grants scheme are set out in the legislation and 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:.

Responsibility for the administration of my Department's Rural Water Programme, under which funding is provided for group water/sewerage schemes, has been devolved to local authorities since 1997. The selection, prioritisation and approval of scheme proposals for advancement and funding under the programme, within the overall priorities set by my Department and subject to the annual block grant allocations provided is therefore a matter for the local authorities.

The group sewerage scheme grants apply to schemes containing multiple dwellings and must remain separate from the grants scheme for individual waste water treatment systems which targets financial assistance at individual low-income households which incur expenditure directly as a result of the implementation of the Water Services (Amendment) Act 2012.