Calls for septic tank grants to be extended to Mayo holiday homes

Mayo County Councillors have called on the Government to extend septic tank grant assistance to holiday homeowners and households outside designated catchment areas, amid concerns over water quality and the number of failing treatment systems in Mayo.

Mayo County Council has revealed that 66 percent of septic tanks inspected in the county during 2025 failed, with almost 31,000 domestic wastewater treatment systems currently registered across Mayo.

The figures were outlined during a presentation to councillors at the Climate Change and Environment SPC meeting on the available septic tank grant schemes, the Council's inspection programme, and efforts to protect water quality.

Under the Water Services Act 2012, owners of properties connected to domestic wastewater treatment systems are legally responsible for ensuring their systems are properly installed and maintained so they do not pose a risk to public health or the environment.

The Council's representative explained that there are three grant schemes available to assist householders with the repair or replacement of failing septic tanks.

The national inspection plan involves inspections carried out by local authorities in areas identified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Where a system fails inspection, the householder receives an advisory notice outlining the necessary remedial works. Failure to carry out the required improvements can constitute an offence.

The second scheme, known as Areas for Action, identifies properties close to rivers and water bodies where domestic wastewater has been identified as a potential source of pollution. Eligible householders receive a letter inviting them to apply for grant assistance.

The third scheme relates to High Status Objective Catchment areas, where householders can check their eligibility through an online mapping system using their Eircode.

Under the schemes, eligible householders can receive 85% of the cost of approved works, up to a maximum grant of €12,000. However, the property must be the applicant's principal private residence, meaning holiday homes and second properties are excluded.

A minimum eligible expenditure of €750 applies to the Areas for Action and High Status schemes.

The Council confirmed that more than 600 letters have already been issued to properties in High Status Objective Catchment areas, encouraging owners to check their septic tanks and apply for assistance where necessary.

Councillor Peter Flynn welcomed the work being undertaken by Mayo County Council's inspection team, saying the feedback from householders had been overwhelmingly positive response from households.

He also acknowledged the improvements made to the grant scheme in recent years, particularly the removal of the requirement for septic tanks to have been registered before householders could apply for assistance.

However, he raised concerns about the exclusion of holiday homes, given their potential impact on water quality in areas that experience a significant increase in population during the summer months.

Referring to the almost 31,000 registered septic tanks in Mayo, he suggested that a substantial proportion could be associated with holiday properties.

“I honestly think there should be some scheme available for holiday homeowners to encourage them to do the right thing.”

He pointed out that holiday homes are often most heavily occupied during the summer, when beaches and bathing waters are also at their busiest.

“Why wouldn't you include every single household along these high-risk areas? These are areas that we drink our day-to-day water from,” he said.

Councillor Peter Flynn proposed that councillors write to the Minister requesting the introduction of a grant scheme for holiday homeowners, particularly those located in environmentally sensitive areas.

He also highlighted the importance of the septic tank remediation programme in helping restore Blue Flag status at beaches including Old Head and Bertra.

Councillor Sean Carey supported the call for an extension of the grant scheme, saying he regularly received queries from householders who wanted to upgrade their septic tanks but were outside the designated eligibility areas.

He said funding should be made available to people who were willing to improve their systems, particularly those living close to watercourses and water sources.

The Council explained that eligibility was determined through river sampling, with letters issued to properties near monitoring points where results indicated that septic tank discharges could be contributing to pollution.

Councillors also welcomed the Council's proactive approach to contacting householders in High Status Objective Catchment areas.

The Council said the programme was being rolled out gradually, as issuing letters to every eligible property at once could result in more applications than could be processed.

The presentation also highlighted the importance of septic tank registration, with almost 31,000 systems currently on the register in Mayo. The Council estimated that it had captured approximately 90 percent of septic tanks in the county.