Information on Grants
On the 4th November 2023, Minister Darragh O’Brien Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage issued a press release (available at https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/40ec0-minister-obrien-announces-increase-in-septic-tank-grants/) announcing changes to the septic tank grant schemes, increasing the maximum grant from €5,000 to €12,000 and removing the requirement for homeowners to have registered their DWWTS with Protect Our Water on or before 1st February 2013. These changes came into effect on the 1st January 2024. In order to qualify for the grant under the 3 schemes described below, the house served by the DWWTS must, in the opinion of the local authority:
- be occupied by the applicant as their primary place of residence (e.g. not a holiday home or rental property),
- not be connected to a public sewerage scheme, (but can connect to one)
- not be currently under construction or constructed within the last 7 years,
- not have been paid a grant for the DWWTS within the last 7 years, and
- have all works completed satisfactorily in accordance with an Advisory Notice.
- National Inspection Plan: Grants are available to fix septic tank systems that were selected for an inspection by a Local Authority under the National Inspection Plan (NIP) and were deemed to have failed. The homeowner will receive an Advisory Notice from the Local Authority indicating what elements of the system requiring remediation, repair, upgrading or replacement. The Local Authority will also handle the grant application submitted after works are completed.
- Priority Areas for Action (PAA’s): Grants are available to fix septic tank systems in these areas that are or may be causing a threat to the environment and need remediation, repair, upgrading or replacement. These systems will be identified by the Local Authority Waters Programme Office (LAWPRO) who will issue a letter confirming eligibility to apply. The homeowner can then apply to the Local Authority for the grant.
- High Status Objective Catchment Areas: Grants are available to fix septic tank systems in these areas that are or may be causing a threat to the environment and need remediation, repair, upgrading or replacement.
You can check if you are in these areas by inputting your EIRCODE in a map and apply to Donegal Co. Council for the grant. If located in a green area, the homeowner should contact the local authority to organise a confirmatory inspection.
The High Status Objective Catchment Area map is available in Irish via the following link : https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/bbc9a35b9d2849a49eaa2f1a1bc80891.
Note: Location of a property in a PAA is no guarantee of eligibility for a grant under this scheme.
All eligible works to DWWTS for the purpose of obtaining one of these grants must be carried out in accordance with the EPA 2021 Code of Practice for Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems.
Important: Costs incurred for the routine maintenance, servicing or de-sludging of a DWWTS do not qualify for a grant.
Legislation
S.I. No. 562 of 2023 – amendment of the original grant scheme (NIP)
S.I. No. 563 of 2023. – applies to PAA’s
S.I. No. 564 of 2023 – applies to High Status Objective Catchments (HSOC)
Application Forms, Terms & Conditions
Details of Terms & Conditions (including the procedure for applying and an application form) for grant aid for eligible works to domestic waste water treatment systems in houses, selected or situated as follows are available from the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government at the following links:
An application form) for grant aid for eligible works to domestic waste water treatment systems in houses, selected or situated as follows are available from the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government at the following links:
1. EPA’s National Inspection Plan (NIP) - no application is required and grant may be claimed using Claim Payment Form NIP (a) 2024 or in Irish Claim Payment Form NIP (a) 2024 (ga) after remedial works have been completed & receipts for payment obtained.
2. Prioritised Areas for Action (PAA) - application should be made using Application Form PAA (a) 2024 or in Irish Application Form PAA (a) 2024 (ga) and claims for grant aid made using Claim Payment Form PAA (b) 2024 or in Irish Claim Payment Form PAA (b) 2024 (ga)
3. High Status Objective Catchment Areas (HSOC) - application should be made using Application Form HSOCA (a) 2024 or in Irish Application Form HSOCA (a) 2024 (ga) and claims for grant aid made using Claim Payment Form HSOCA (b) 2024 or in Irish Claim Payment Form HSOCA (b) 2024 (ga)
The above information, application forms and terms & Conditions are available in Irish at:
Grants are administered by Donegal Co. Council; contact the Water & Environment Section if you require further information or wish to enquire about an application, Tel 074-9153900.
Privacy Notice (Department of Housing, Planning & Local Government)
The Department is committed to protecting and respecting your privacy. This Privacy Notice explains how the Department, as the Data Controller, will process the personal data provided to it in respect of the management and administration of these schemes of financial assistance; how that information will be used, and what rights you may exercise in relation to your personal data.
Fógra Príobháideachais (An Roinn Tithíochta, Rialtais Áitiúil agus Oidhreachta)
Tá an Roinn tiomanta do do phríobháideachas a chosaint agus a urramú. Mínítear san Fógra Príobháideachais seo an chaoi a bpróiseálfaidh an Roinn, mar an Rialaitheoir Sonraí, na sonraí pearsanta a chuirtear ar fáil di maidir le bainistiú agus riarachán na scéimeanna cúnaimh airgeadais seo; conas a úsáidfear an fhaisnéis sin, agus na cearta is féidir leat a fheidhmiú maidir le do shonraí pearsan
Further Information:
DCC Desludging Guide & WCP Contractors Nov 2022
Remediation and Replacement of Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems