Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 September 2022
589. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the current review that his Department is conducting regarding domestic wastewater treatment systems grant schemes; the considerations that are being made regarding the extension of the prescribed date of registration in order to allow all householders to register their systems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43207/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy 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 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 treatment systems continue to be required to register.
In implementing the revised arrangements in 2020, my Department committed to conducting a review of the four grant schemes under Measure 8 of the current Multi-Annual Rural Water Programme, examining all issues to ensure their continued alignment with policy objectives. The review is currently ongoing and is expected to be completed by year end.
