Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 January 2022
559. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of inspections carried out by a local authority (details supplied) on septic tanks over the past three years; the efforts that have taken place to ensure that Covid-19 has not resulted in a detrimental decrease in the number of inspections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1957/22]
View answer560. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the types of grant aid available to households in cases in which a septic tank has failed an inspection by a local authority; if consideration is being given to extending potential grant aid for repairs in circumstances in which an immediate environmental risk is evident outside the inspection process by local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1958/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 559 and 560 together.
Section 70K of the Water Services Act 2007 (as amended) requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to prepare a national inspection plan with regard to the inspection and monitoring of domestic waste water treatment systems, and authorises the water authorities to implement the plan including arranging for inspections.
The EPA publishes an annual report on inspections, the latest report for 2020 can be found on the EPA's website at the link below, which may be helpful to the Deputy. www.epa.ie/publications/compliance--enforcement/waste-water/-domestic-waste-water-treatment-system-inspections-2020.php
The Deputy may also wish to contact the local authority mentioned in the details supplied for further information in relation to his request.
Under the Water Services Acts 2007 and 2012 (Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems) Regulations 2012, the owner of a domestic waste water treatment system is responsible for its maintenance and renewal and shall ensure that its parts and components are fit for purpose, operational where appropriate and kept in good order and repair so as to prevent a risk to human health or the environment.
My Department provides financial assistance towards the remediation, repair or upgrading works to, or the replacement of a domestic waste water treatment system under new and revised grant schemes which launched in June 2020. The schemes are focused on areas of greatest environmental priority rather than general in application. This is in line with Government Policy which is framed in the context of meeting relevant obligations under legislation. The grant schemes are administered by the local authorities on behalf of my Department and details of the Terms and Conditions for each scheme can be found on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/6cc1e-domestic-waste-water-treatment-systems-septic-tanks/?referrer=http://www.housing.gov.ie/water/water-quality/domestic-waste-water-systemsseptic-tanks/domestic-waste-water-treatment-1
The types of grant aid available to households, subject to all relevant eligibility criteria being met, are as follows:
- Grants for treatment systems where the system has failed an inspection by a local authority under the Environmental Protection Agency's National Inspection Plan.
- Grants for treatment systems in Prioritised Areas for Action as outlined in the River Basin Management Plan 2018-2021.
- Grants for treatment systems in High Status Objective Catchment Areas as outlined in the River Basin Management Plan 2018-2021.
The maximum grant payable in each case is 85% of approved costs, up to a maximum of €5,000.
