Call for 100% grants for rural septic tanks

It's a big issue in the county and once again it was raised at council level this week at the meeting of the Municipal District of

Ballinamore where Cllr Gerry Dolan called on them to write to the Minister for Housing requesting that grants of 100% be made available to people who are in rural areas to have their septic tanks upgraded to meet the required standards.

"Anyone who needs to upgrade their septic tank, should get grant aid of 100% to do it," said the Independent councillor.

Cllr Caillian Ellis supported the motion saying that one family received an estimate of €20,000.

Cllr Enda McGloin noted that if "your tank is deemed to have failed the test, that's the only way you can access a grant presently" with chair Paddy O'Rourke pointing out that the grant comes to just €5,000.

Cllr McGloin suggested that an entirely new scheme needs to be introduced.

He suggested writing a letter to the Minister for Environment and the Minister for Rural and Community Development stating that the issue "really affects people living in rural areas."

Cllr O'Rourke said that residents only qualify for a grant if the water quality within a particular catchment area deteriorates and an investigation is carried out and septic tanks are identified as the

issue. "There are many families who would make a contribution to this but there has to be a worthwhile grant and €5,000 is not enough," he said. 

It was decided that the council would write to both ministers as well as the department.