Written answers
Wednesday, 20 March 2024
Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government
Septic Tanks
Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
589. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of additional households that became eligible for septic tank grants since his announcement in November 2023 of changes to the grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11658/24]
Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
590. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government who can apply for the septic tank grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11659/24]
Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
591. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of households in the State that are in the eligible areas for septic tank grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11660/24]
Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
592. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of households in County Roscommon and County Galway that are in the eligible areas for septic tank grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11661/24]
Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
593. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to advise if he will review the eligible areas for the septic tank grant given the majority of areas cannot access it as they are outside the eligible area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11662/24]
Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
I propose to take Questions Nos. 589 to 593, inclusive, together.
The policy of providing grant funding for remedial work on Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems (DWWTS), including septic tanks, arises from the need to address damage being done to water quality in sensitive areas in particular.
The grants are focused on the areas of greatest environmental priority and are available only in circumstances relating to risks to water quality and/or human health, and are not general in application.
There are three grant schemes available to households to incentivise them to carry out works to their defective DWWTS. Individual households can avail of the grants if their DWWTS has failed an inspection under the National Inspection Plan and an Advisory Notice has issued, or if they are located in either a Prioritised Area for Action or a High Status Objective Catchment Area, as identified in the River Basin Management Plan 2018-2021.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has statutory responsibility, under the Water Services Act 2007, for the preparation of the National Inspection Plan for DWWTS. Inspections are allocated across the country with the greatest focus on areas where there is the most risk to groundwater, surface water or human health. The EPA coordinates and monitors inspections and the local authorities are responsible for the implementation of the Plan.
Following extensive consultation with key stakeholders in the Rural Water Sector, my Department completed a review of the terms and conditions of the three grants. As a result of the review and the recommendations made, I announced significant improvements to the grants available.
The changes which came into effect from 1 January 2024 are, an increase in the maximum grant amount available to €12,000, up from €5,000 and removal of a qualifying condition that a septic tank must be registered with the local authority before 2013.
The improvements made are aimed to encourage more householders to seek and avail of the grants available and it is expected to result in an increase in applications in 2024 and beyond.
I have no plans to make further changes.
No comments