Written answers
Tuesday, 30 April 2024
Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government
Septic Tanks
Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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397. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will extend the grant scheme including additional designated areas to assist more householders to upgrade and-or replace septic tanks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18974/24]
Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The policy of providing grant funding to households for 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 the environment, and are not general in application.
I can confirm that 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, in November 2023 I announced significant improvements to the grants available which came into effect from 1 January 2024.
However, the grants continue to be available only in circumstances relating to risks to water quality and/or human health and the environment. I have no plans to make further changes.
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