Written answers

Tuesday, 9 June 2015

Department of Environment, Community and Local Government

Septic Tank Inspections

Photo of Michelle MulherinMichelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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1064. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if a local authority is required to inspect a septic tank, where the individual householder reports that the septic tank is malfunctioning and likely to cause a risk to the environment, and-or to human health; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21978/15]

Photo of Michelle MulherinMichelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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1070. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to extend the septic tank grant scheme for remediation works, repair works, upgrading works, or replacement in respect of a domestic waste water treatment system, where the need for such remediation, repair, upgrading or replacement has been identified by a householder; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22055/15]

Photo of Alan KellyAlan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1064 and 1070 together.

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 for the selection of systems for inspection taking into account factors 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. Householders cannot request inspections of their own treatment systems, nor are inspections under the plan carried out based on third party complaints.

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. The qualification criteria 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:

I have no plans to extend or vary the qualifying criteria of the grant scheme. However, householders who do not meet the eligibility criteria included in the Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems (Financial Assistance) Regulations 2013 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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