Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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52. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the low take-up of the domestic septic tank grant; and his plans for broadening the qualifying criteria for the grant. [45232/17]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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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 grant 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 grant scheme ensures that the limited financial resources available are targeted towards householders, particularly those on lower incomes, who incur expenditure directly as a result of the implementation of the Water Services (Amendment) Act 2012.

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 undertake 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 the following link:

www.housing.gov.ie/water/water-quality/domestic-waste-water-systemsseptic-tanks/domestic-waste-water-treatment-0.

Householders who do not meet the eligibility criteria for the grant under the aforementioned Regulations and who wish to remediate or upgrade their on-site treatment systems may qualify for relief under the Home Renovation Incentive (HRI) Scheme introduced pursuant to 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 Commissioners' website at www.revenue.ie.

Applications for grant aid in respect of remediation works are submitted to, and processed by, the local authorities who then seek recoupment of the amounts paid from my Department. Details of the grant amounts recouped by my Department to local authorities since the scheme was introduced in 2013 are published on my Department's website at the following link:

www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/dwwts_grants_paid_2014-2017_1.pdf.

While it is not proposed to make any changes to the grant scheme at this time, my Department will shortly commence a review to quantify what additional investment is required to equalise treatment between those using public water services and those who do not (i.e those in group water schemes, with private wells and using septic tanks) as recommended by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services. This will include engagement with the National Federation of Group Water Schemes and other stakeholders.