Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 29 April 2004
56 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has plans to introduce a grant scheme to upgrade septic tanks, prioritising areas in which group sewerage schemes are not viable; and if he will review the grant scheme for group sewerage schemes to the same levels available to water schemes. [12184/04]
View answerThere are no proposals at present to introduce a scheme of grants for septic tank improvements. The national rural water monitoring committee is currently overseeing the implementation of a pilot programme by local authorities to test a range of new, small scale waste water collection and treatment systems. In all, 12 villages in six counties have been selected as locations for the pilot programme under which appointed contractors will design, build and operate the infrastructure over a 20 year period. Construction is expected to commence later this year.
Subject to a satisfactory outcome to the pilot testing, the national rural water monitoring committee envisages a potential role for group sewerage schemes in the collection of domestic waste-water from households outside the immediate catchment of such treatment systems. Confirmation of such a role for group sewerage schemes and any review of related grants must await the outcome of the pilot programme.
