Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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201. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the provisions that his Department has in place to increase the domestic wastewater treatment systems financial assistance grant schemes to reflect the ever-increasing cost of upgrading or replacing a domestic septic tank given that the current €5,000 maximum grant, in the majority of incidences, does not go close to covering 85% of the total cost of upgrade or replacement works as the scheme is intended to do; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44522/22]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Under the Water Services Acts 2007 and 2012 (Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems) Regulations 2012, the owner of a domestic waste water treatment system is responsible for its maintenance and renewal and should ensure that its parts and components are fit for purpose, operational where appropriate, kept in good order and repair so as to prevent a risk to human health or the environment.

My Department provides financial assistance towards the remediation, repair or upgrading works to, or the replacement of a domestic waste water treatment system under new and revised grant schemes, which launched in June 2020. The schemes are focused on areas of greatest environmental priority rather than general in application. This is in line with Government Policy which is framed in the context of meeting relevant obligations under legislation. The grant schemes are administered by the local authorities on behalf of my Department.

In June 2020 the maximum percentage of approved costs was increased from 75% to 85%, subject to the total maximum grant paid of €5,000 for upgrades and replacements of domestic waste water treatment systems.

In implementing the revised arrangements, my Department has undertaken to conduct a review of these grant schemes, to ensure their continued alignment with policy objectives. The review is ongoing and is expected to be completed by year end.