Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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469. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a grant scheme for old septic tanks damaged by floods in the recent bad weather or if he will provide an additional scheme for those registered under the Water Services (Amendment) Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2934/16]

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 septic tanks and domestic waste water treatment systems which are deemed, following inspection under the Environmental Protection Agency’s National Inspection Plan, to require repair or upgrading. It is not proposed to make any changes to the grant scheme introduced under the Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems (Financial Assistance) Regulations 2013 at this time. While septic tanks may have been impacted by flooding, many systems will be resilient and will be usable once flood waters have receded. The Environmental Protection Agency advises that septic tank systems should not be used until flooding subsides below the level of the tank ; this is more to prevent water backing up into a property than any other reason. The EPA has published advice for septic tank owners on its website at

If householders are experiencing difficulties with their septic tank following recent flooding they may be eligible for support from the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme administered by the Department of Social Protection. This scheme is available to assist people whose homes are damaged by flooding and who are not in a position to meet costs for essential needs, household items and in some instances structural repair. In order to ensure that the funding available is appropriately targeted, levels of payment under the scheme depend on the relative severity of damage experienced and the household’s ability to meet these costs.

Further details on the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme and the income test for single persons and families is available on the Department of Social Protection’s website at .

More generally, householders who do not meet the eligibility criteria for the grant under the Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems (Financial Assistance) Regulations 2013 who 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 the Revenue Commissioner’s website ().

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 septic tanks and domestic waste water treatment systems which are deemed, following inspection under the Environmental Protection Agency’s National Inspection Plan, to require repair or upgrading. The Regulations provide that, subject to the applicant meeting all qualification criteria, a local authority may 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 clearly 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 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 the Revenue Commissioner’s website ().

Section 70 H of the Water Services Act 2007, as inserted under the Water Services (Amendment) Act 2012 , provides for the issue by a water services authority of an Advisory Notice, subsequent to an inspection, which specifies the date by which the necessary remediation work is to be carried out. The timeframe for remediation work is set by the water services authority on a case-by-case basis and will depend on factors such as the nature of the failing revealed by the inspection and the element of risk to human health or the environment. The Act also provides that the water services authority will carry out such further inspections of the treatment system in question as it considers appropriate to ens u re that the matters specified in the Advisory Notice have been remedied.