433. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has reviewed the current criteria around the T-test (subsurface percolation test), which assesses subsoil permeability for an on-site wastewater treatment system (e.g., a septic tank or treatment plant) as part of the on-going review around rural planning guidelines (details supplied). [50901/26]

467. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the assessments in relation to water, waste water and so on, that were carried out on the Sustainable Rural and Gaeltacht Housing Draft National Planning Policy Statement; when the strategic environmental assessment and appropriate assessments were commissioned; who has been commissioned to undertake them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51347/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 433 and 467 together.

The Government agreed a proposed policy direction for rural and Gaeltacht housing on 30 June 2026. This means that the Draft National Planning Statement (NPS) on Sustainable Rural and Gaeltacht Housing, prepared by my Department under Section 25 of the Planning and Development Act 2024, can now move to environmental assessment under relevant EU Directives, prior to its approval by Government.

The new draft Statement refines and updates the existing 2005 Sustainable Rural Housing Guidelines to reflect the Planning and Development Act 2024 and the established policy in the Revised National Planning Framework (NPF), which is to facilitate new rural housing for those with a local rural housing need, balanced with preventing urban generated sprawl in rural areas under urban development pressures, protecting and promoting the cultural and linguistic heritage of the Gaeltacht, and the regeneration of rural towns and villages.

The proposed new policy approach seeks to provide more clarity and consistency across the various planning authorities by defining the relevant planning and local needs criteria to be applied in local development plans and in the consideration of planning applications for single rural housing in rural and Gaeltacht areas.

The draft NPS will now be assessed for the purposes of Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and Appropriate Assessment (AA) under the EU SEA and Birds and Habitats Directives, including any necessary associated consultation, in advance of the planned publication of a final National Planning Statement, following Government approval, before the end of 2026.

Under Section 25 of the 2024 Planning and Development Act, draft National Planning Statements are subject to approval by Government prior to issue by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage .

Until they are replaced by any final National Planning Statement, the Sustainable Rural Housing Guidelines for Planning Authorities, 2005 remain in effect.

As set out in the Draft Sustainable Rural and Gaeltacht Housing National Planning Statement, the EPA Code of Practice (and any subsequent updates or replacements) should form the basis for the assessment of proposed domestic waste water treatment systems.

The EPA Code of Practice: Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems (Population Equivalent 10), issued in 2021 (which replaces earlier manuals) sets out a detailed methodology in relation to site assessment and in relation to the selection, installation and maintenance of an appropriate domestic waste water treatment system.

The Code of Practice for Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems was last updated by the EPA in 2021. The 2021 code and associated material is available to view online at: www.epa.ie/publications/compliance--enforcement/waste-water/2021-code-of-practice-for-domestic-waste-water-treatment-systems.php