Planned septic tank grant increase for Laois households
Increased Septic Tank grants will be available to homeowners across Laois from the start of next year.
Homeowners dealing with failing septic tanks will be assisted with funding to carry out improvement works up to €12,000 from January 1, 2024, a local Fine Gael Councillor has said.
Fine Gael Councillor Conor Bergin said that an increase in grants available for Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems (commonly known as Septic Tanks) will also benefit even more homeowners from next year.
“The Septic Tank grants are to be increased to €12,000 from €5,000, representing a massive 140% increase,” said Cllr Bergin.
“But significantly, the previous qualifying condition that the septic tank must be registered with the local authority prior to 1st February 2013 will be removed, meaning that more homeowners across Laois will be eligible to avail of these grants from January 1st.”
“These enhanced grants can be used to repair, upgrade, or even replace septic tanks which aren’t fit for purpose. This is really positive news for owners of standalone and rural housing who have faced challenges maintaining proper functioning septic tanks. We know that there are almost half a million homes around the country which aren’t connected to a public sewage network and therefore have their own network,” he said.
“An Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) report showed that half of septic tanks inspected failed the report, with an additional 20% posing an immediate risk to human health on the environment. If sewage isn’t treated correctly, it can carry harmful bacteria and viruses which pose a threat to our gardens, rivers, and streams,” explained Cllr Bergin.
“That is why it is so important to have a high standard septic tank – but heretofore that has proven costly and stressful for homeowners. These significant grants increases are set to benefit more homeowners in Laois than ever before, benefitting their families, their homes and land and also the environment”, he concluded.