A Leitrim Councillor is calling on the Minister to double grants available for the upgrade of septic tanks.
Enda Stenson says households are no longer able to carry out upgrades as requested due to the high costs involved.
While a grant of just below €5,000 euro is available to households, Councillor Stenson says the minimum cost of replacing a septic tank system is around €16,000 euro.
The Independent Councillor says people simply can't afford to pay the shortfall.
Because of the new regulations and the new rules , a lot of them in Leitrim are not up to standard , simply because of soil variation and what have you.
But people cannot afford, and have not got , €12,000 to €15,000 to replace their septic tanks.
The department is serious about environmental issues, and septic tanks along the Shannon.
They have got to up the ante, and put in a proper grant in place that people can afford to put in new septic tanks and a new sewerage system in the area.
