The launch of the registration programme for domestic wastewater treatment systems in late June 2012 was accompanied by an extensive public awareness campaign, with information regarding how to register and the fee payable being broadcast by local radio stations nationwide and on national stations. Advertisements were also placed in national, local and regional newspapers. Information regarding how to register was also published on a number of websites, including those of my Department, the Environmental Protection Agency and the local authorities. The reduced registration fee of €5, which applied to those who registered on or before 28 September 2012, was also widely publicised during the campaign.
During the period from late August to mid-September 2012, the radio and newspaper campaign was re-run. The local authorities also distributed an information booklet to homes in un-sewered areas, advising householders of the legal requirement to register by 1 February 2013, along with details of how to register and the fact that the reduced registration fee was available until September 28th 2012. The fee since that date is €50. Another major publicity campaign, again involving local radio and newspapers, and augmented by advertisements in national newspapers, was rolled-out in the run up to the 1 February 2013 deadline.
The Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems (Financial Assistance) Regulations 2013, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas library, brought into operation a grants scheme to assist with the cost of remediation of septic tanks and domestic waste water treatment systems which are deemed, following inspection under the EPA’s National Inspection Plan and the subsequent issue of an Advisory Notice by the local authority, to require repair or upgrading. The Regulations provide that, subject to the applicant meeting the qualification criteria, a local authority may pay a grant to a person who is required, following an inspection, to have repairs or upgrades to, or replacement of, a septic tank or other domestic waste water treatment system. The qualification criteria are set out in the Regulations, a critical one being that only those who complied with the legal obligation to register their systems by 1 February 2013 are eligible to apply for grant aid. There are no provisions for concessional treatment and all qualifying criteria must be met in order for a grant to be paid. Full details of the scheme, including eligibility criteria, are set out in the explanatory leaflet and application form published on my Department’s website at:
http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/Environment/Water/FileDownLoad,33607,en.pdf.
Householders who do not meet the eligibility criteria included in the above regulations but wish to remediate or upgrade their on-site treatment systems may qualify for relief under the Home Renovation Incentive (HRI) Scheme introduced under Section 5 of the Finance (No. 2) Act 2013. The HRI scheme covers main residence repairs, renovations and improvements, including the repair or replacement of septic tanks. The scheme is administered by the Revenue Commissioners and full details are published on Revenue’s website at:
http://www.revenue.ie/en/tax/it/reliefs/hri/home-renovation-incentive-guide.pdf.
