Naoise Ó Muirí (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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573. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he currently has plans to review the eligibility for a grant for septic tanks for households outside of the high-status objective catchment area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63222/25]

Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South-West, Fianna Fail)
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Grant assistance is available in specific circumstances to support householders where defective Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems (DWWTS), including septic tanks, present the greatest risk to the environment or to public health. The grants are focused on the areas of greatest environmental priority to protect human health and the environment, and are not general in application.

In particular, grants may be accessed where a system has failed an inspection under the National Inspection Plan and an Advisory Notice has issued, or where a dwelling is located within a designated area identified as being particularly vulnerable to the impacts of defective systems.

The operation and maintenance of DWWTS remains the responsibility of the property owner, who must ensure that their system functions effectively and does not pose a risk to human health or the environment.

My Department is currently finalising a review of the grant support arrangements in light of evolving environmental objectives, including consideration of additional areas now identified as priority areas for action.

The outcome of this review will help ensure that the available resources continue to be used to best effect, delivering the greatest environmental and public health benefits for the funding invested.