Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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442. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will extend and expand the septic tank grant to ensure upgrades can be availed of for all defective tanks, irrespective of their location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29722/24]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The Rural Water Programme provides financial assistance to households in specific circumstances where capital works are required to rectify defective Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems (DWWTS), including septic tanks.

The policy of providing grant funding to households for work on DWWTS 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.

Householders can avail of the grants if their DWWTS has failed an inspection under the National Inspection Plan and an Advisory Notice has been issued, or if the DWWTS is located in either a Prioritised Area for Action or a High Status Objective Catchment Area, as identified in the River Basin Management Plan.

Modifications to the conditions and amount of the grants available came into effect from 1 January 2024 following a review of the scheme and I have no plans to make further changes.