169 septic tank grants paid out in first six months of 2025
The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage has confirmed that 169 septic tank grants were paid out in the first six months of this year.
According to the latest figures provided by Minister James Browne, the largest number of septic tank grants were allocated to applicants in Co. Galway in this timeframe, with a total of 31 receiving grant aid.
Last year, the government increased the maximum grant amount available for septic tanks from €5,000 to €12,000.
Under current legislation, the responsibility for the "proper operation and maintenance of Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems (DWWTS), including septic tanks", lies with an individual property owner.
According to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, owners must also ensure that their systems are functioning effectively and do not pose a risk to human health or the environment.
The department has highlighted that "regular maintenance, desludging, and repairs, where necessary, are part of the owner’s obligations".
In response to a parliamentary question raised by the Independent TD for Tipperary South, Mattie McGrath, on how a person whose septic tank is not working can qualify for a grant to improve their septic tank, Minister Browne said the grants system was linked to "water quality".
The minister said: "The policy of providing grant funding for remedial work to septic tanks arises from the need to address damage being done to water quality in sensitive areas in particular.
"The grants are focused on the areas of greatest environmental priority to protect human health and the environment, and are not general in application.
"Householders can avail of the grants if their DWWTS has failed an inspection under the National Inspection Plan and an advisory notice has been issued, or if located in designated areas where septic tanks are identified as a potential threat to water quality or human health and require remediation".
| Local Authority | Paid in 2022 | Paid in 2023 | Paid in 2024 | Paid in 2025 (to 24 June) |
| Carlow | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| Cavan | 3 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Clare | 5 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| Cork City | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Cork County | 11 | 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Donegal | 12 | 15 | 19 | 9 |
| Dun Laoghaire/ Rathdown | 0 | 4 | 6 | 0 |
| Galway | 3 | 0 | 16 | 31 |
| Kerry | 7 | 9 | 16 | 10 |
| Kildare | 18 | 12 | 15 | 11 |
| Kilkenny | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 |
| Laois | 3 | 1 | 12 | 13 |
| Leitrim | 18 | 9 | 11 | 6 |
| Limerick | 3 | 7 | 1 | 1 |
| Longford | 2 | 2 | 5 | 2 |
| Louth | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mayo | 14 | 26 | 18 | 13 |
| Meath | 53 | 30 | 42 | 12 |
| Monaghan | 6 | 4 | 7 | 5 |
| Offaly | 1 | 4 | 13 | 9 |
| Roscommon | 7 | 11 | 19 | 9 |
| Sligo | 4 | 7 | 10 | 3 |
| South Dublin | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Tipperary | 4 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| Waterford | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Westmeath | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Wexford | 30 | 32 | 26 | 14 |
| Wicklow | 0 | 9 | 3 | 0 |
| Totals | 211 | 194 | 265 | 169 |
Minister Browne also provided details to Deputy McGrath on the number of grants paid by his department to each local authority from 2022 to date.
This data show that, after Galway, the top four counties which accounted for the largest number of grants awarded included the 14 applicants in Co. Wexford, who received septic tank grants and 13 applicants in counties Laois and Mayo.
