140% increase in Septic Tank Grants to benefit even more homeowners in 2024 – Ahearn

Homeowners dealing with failing septic tanks will be assisted with funding to carry out improvement works up to €12000 from January 1^st 2024, a Fine Gael Senator has said.

Fine Gael Senator Garret Ahearn 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,” Senator Ahearn outlined. “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 will be eligible to avail of these grants from January 1^st.

“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.

“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.

“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 than ever before, benefitting their families, their homes and land and also the environment.”