Galway homeowners shut out on septic tank grants
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HOMEOWNERS dealing with failing septic tanks are being shut out of funding support due to strict grant rules – leaving many to face costly repairs alone, councillors have warned.
Councillor Andrew Reddington (FG) described the criteria for the Domestic Wastewater Treatment Systems grant scheme as ‘absolutely terrible’, as elected representatives criticised limited access to the scheme and its impact on Galway households.
“The criteria for this grant are absolutely terrible,” said Cllr Reddington.
“Something more needs to be done here. No one can avail of the grant. It is absolutely crazy. We need to do more in relation to this. I only know one out of 150 people who got the grant. You would imagine an engineer’s report would suffice.”
It was confirmed at a recent meeting of Galway County Council that there is no alternative grant scheme available to the public.
Currently, householders must meet three conditions to qualify: falling under the National Inspection, Prioritised Areas for Action, or High-Status Objective Catchment Area
The criteria for this grant are absolutely terrible,
For those who do not meet these criteria, an engineer’s report confirming a septic tank is not operating correctly, will not suffice.
Cllr Siobhán McHugh Ryan (FG) said “it does not seem right” and called for clarity on how eligible areas are determined.
Connemara Cllr Eileen Mannion (FG) acknowledged the issue is outside the council’s remit but said a revision of the criteria would be a “win-win situation”, urging the council to seek “more flexibility in relation to septic tanks”.
Independent Cllr Tomás Grealish said that “only an area in Connemara” can apply for the grant, “while the whole of East Galway is not legible”.
Loughrea Cllr Laurie Harney (FG) noted that although his area does not have “a problem with soakage”, the overall situation is “horrendous”, while Cllr Michael Regan (FF) said there is “only a small sketch of Galway that can be included”.
“We need to write to the Department that all of County Galway be included,” he said.“ Anyone with a problem should be entitled to get that grant.”
However, Cllr Geraldine Donohue (Ind) told the meeting that the Environmental Protection and Agriculture Strategic Policy Committee (SPC) had already written to the Department of Local Government and received a response in October 2025.
The Department stated that householders have “a legal and financial responsibility” to ensure their septic tanks are “properly maintained and do not pose a risk to human health or the environment”
It also confirmed that “grants are not general in application and are targeted at areas of greatest environmental risk”.
Councillors agreed the scheme should be extended nationally to better protect the environment.
Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.