Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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162. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if the housing aid for older persons scheme and the housing adaptation grant for people with disabilities exclude works to address problems with an existing registered septic tank; if he is aware that such persons cannot avail of the existing septic tank grant unless they are randomly selected by the Environmental Protection Agency inspection programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36716/15]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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Arising from the Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems (Financial Assistance) Regulations 2013, a grants scheme is available to assist with the cost of remediation of septic tanks and domestic waste water treatment systems which are deemed to require repair or upgrading, following inspection under the EPA’s National Inspection Plan and the subsequent issue of an Advisory Notice by the local authority. This provides for a local authority to pay a grant to a person who is required, following an inspection, to have repairs or upgrades to, or replacement of, a septic tank or other domestic waste water treatment system. 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:

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

The Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability is administered by local authorities with funding from my Department. Grant eligible works are generally those carried out to the fabric of a building such as structural repairs or improvements, re-wiring, repairs to or replacement of windows and doors, sanitary facilities, the provision of heating and other repair or improvement works which are considered reasonably necessary. In view of the focus of the Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes on works generally to the building fabric, and given the support that is available for the remediation of septic tanks and domestic waste water treatment systems set out above, I do not expect that local authorities would ordinarily approve works to address problems with a septic tank from these particular Schemes.