'Fanfare' but no start in sight for €12,000 septic tank grant

Nobody in Ireland can yet apply for a new national septic tank grant, and Laois councillors have slammed the delay.

Nearly a month after a big announcement by Minister for Housing Darragh O'Brien in early November that the grants to repair or replace old private tanks are going up from €5,000 to €12,000, the Government still has not issued any guidelines to local authorities.

Laois County Council has this week confirmed that it cannot take applications until it gets details of the new scheme, and described the Minister as "silent" on the criteria for who can qualify.

This is despite the grant to be offered from January 1 2024.

Cllr Willie Aird tabled a motion at the November council meeting, asking for clarification from his Fine Gael party colleague, Minister O'Brien. He said a fanfare with no back up is unfair.

"So even though it's December there is nothing down here so no-one can make an application. I ask that you remind them that we are waiting. There are so many people waiting. 

"People really depend on this. I don't think it's fair to come out with a fanfare and not back it up. People have to have time to get their applications in and arrange money. I'm in and out ten times asking for this," he said.

Director of Services Simon Walton explained the delay.

"It commences in January 2024 but the guidelines are not yet received from the Department. We anticipate we will have them before the end of the year," he said.

Cllr Paddy Bracken said many houses in Mountmellick still rely on old tanks that are leaking pollution.

"Hundreds of houses in the town boundary are on septic tanks with no mains sewerage. That is obviously causing pollution. A lot were built in the 50s, 60s and 70s but were not upgraded. Is there a means test? Who designates a tank as unfit for purpose" he asked.

Mr Walton said that the Environmental Protection Agency and LAWPRO (The Local Authority Waters Programme) do the inspections.

He said many more houses will become eligible under the new scheme, as it removes the condition that tanks had to have been inspected prior to 2013. 

"In 2023 we issued one grant. It has become completely unsustainable to do. This is not for upkeep or maintenance of tanks, its for replacements. If we visit and determine there needs to be an improvement notice, as I understand that will render you eligible. But a word of caution, we haven't seen the new guidelines," he said.

Cll Thomasina Connell said the €5k offered in the current scheme left a "bridge that was just too much" for the homeowner to pay.

"We can't give €5,000 to a pensioner and ask them to make up the difference," she said.

Cllr Ollie Clooney said if the same rules apply, the new scheme will be "no good".

"Why repeat it with more money dangled? If tanks are defective it should be addressed. The forms should be user friendly, it was too stringent before," he said.

The council also gave a detailed written response.

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"The recent Ministerial announcement provided that, effective from the 1st January 2024, the maximum grant will increase to €12,000 (from €5000) and the requirement that the grant only apply to pre-January 2013-registered septic tanks is removed.

"There are other, current, eligibility criteria that limit the number of septic tanks to which the grant applies. The Minister’s announcement is silent in respect of these eligibility criteria. A Circular is to be provided by the Department, prior to 1st January 2024, to advise all eligibility criteria for the grant from that date forward," the council state.