The Chairperson of the ICMSA’s Farm Services and Environment Committee, Patrick Rohan, has welcomed the recent signing of regulations by Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Phil Hogan TD, which bring the Septic Tank Grants Scheme into operation.
The Minister announced details of the Septic Tank Grants Scheme in December 2012 and ICMSA believe the provision of such financial assistance is essential for households whose septic tanks and other domestic waste water treatment systems require remediation or upgrading.
Rohan stated it is important to note that in order to be eligible to apply for the grant your septic tank or other waste water system had to be registered by 1 February 2013. Also, a householder can only apply for the grant where remedial action or upgrading is required following an inspection. It is not possible to get a grant for work carried out in advance of an inspection, an issue that Rohan said ICMSA believes must be re-examined to allow householders who are anxious to carry out remedial work immediately and in advance of an inspection but are not in a position financially to do so in the absence of the grant.
There are approximately 441,000 septic tank owners in Ireland, the majority in rural areas, that can avail of this grant.
In addition, the ICMSA chairperson stated the signing of regulations by Minister for Housing and Planning, Jan O’Sullivan TD, that provide for an exemption from planning permission for works arising from an inspection under the National Inspection Plan is an issue which ICMSA had raised with Minister Hogan and welcomes the announcement.
Rohan concluded by stating unnecessary and costly standards must not be demanded by local authorities and cannot become requirements in order to be eligible for grant aid.
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