Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 February 2021
301. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to carry out revisions to the septic tank grant scheme to enable those who did not register to do so; if access to the associated grant scheme can be applied for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5743/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing on from the recommendations contained in the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services report in April 2017, a Working Group was established to conduct a review of the wider resources and investment needs relating to the rural water sector. As part of its work, the Working Group recommended a number of revisions to the existing grant scheme that provided support towards the remediation, repair, or upgrading works to, or the replacement of, domestic waste water treatment systems. The revised and new regulations that underpin the grant schemes were published in May 2020.
The Water Services Act 2007, as amended, required all owners of premises served by an individual domestic waste water treatment system to have the system entered into a register maintained by local authorities. The prescribed date of 1 February 2013 was appointed by the Water Services Act 2007 and 2012 Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems (Registration) Regulations 2012, as amended. New houses with domestic tanks continue to be required to register.
The strict cut-off date, together with sanctions for non-compliance, was successful ensuring that an estimated 95% of systems were registered. Amending this provision to allow for retrospective registration would require amendments to primary legislation. It was not possible to do so as part of the introduction of the revised grant schemes which were effected by regulations.
In implementing the revised arrangements, my Department has undertaken to conduct a review of the grant schemes after one year of operation to ensure their alignment with policy objectives. In this context the issue of the registration cut-off date will be considered, noting, of course, that primary legislation would be required to effect such a change.
