The Water Services Act 2007, as amended, required all owners of premises served by an individual domestic waste water treatment system to register the system with their local authority by 1 February 2013. Having a strict cut-off date to register, together with appropriate sanctions for non-compliance, helped to ensure that an estimated 95% of systems were registered.
The Domestic Waste Water Treatment System grant scheme is administered by the local authorities. As such all matters relating to the day-to-day operation of the grant scheme, including applications, payments and appeals, are a matter for the relevant authority. Under the grant scheme, an appeals process is available for applicants who may have been dissatisfied with a decision of a local authority.
I can confirm that my Department has undertaken a review of Domestic Waste Water Treatment grants. As part of the ongoing review, issues relating to the operation of the grants are being examined. The review is expected to be completed in the coming months.