Septic tank charge to hit 18,000 homes

The red hot issue of a possible charge for the inspection of septic tanks in rural areas of Meath will hit more than 18,000 households in Meath, it has emerged this week as voices of opposition are raised against the proposal. A total of 18,231 households with septic tanks out of a total of 53,575 homes throughout Meath would be in the front line for the charge if it goes ahead, based on figures from the 2006 Census of Population, the most recent figures available. The Minister for the Environment & Local Government, Phil Hogan confirmed on Tuesday that a registration charge of €100 will have to be paid by septic tank owners. A higher annual fee of €300 had been feared. The Minister said that legislation providing for the septic tank registration and inspection system was necessary to prevent the State facing a substantial fine for failure to comply with an EU directive on waste water. However, news of the new charges has stirred opposition throughout County Meath, in particular from Fianna Fail and some farming groups. Navan Fianna Fail Cllrs Shane Cassells and Tommy Reilly said this week that although it was still uncertain what the cost would be for the inspection charges, there was a lot of anger about the proposals and a crowd of nearly 300 people attended a public rally at the CityNorth Hotel in Gormanston last Thursday to voice their opposition. Organised by MEP Marian Harkin, it was attended by many local representatives from Meath, including Fianna Fail Senator Thomas Byrne and Cllrs Reilly and Cassells. Reacting to the proposed introduction of these inspections which could lead to replacement septic tanks being needed, Cllr Cassells said that this was "coming at a time when many households were already at breaking point, and that if the government continues on this path, they could tip people over the edge. "The sight of a corps of EPA engineers traversing the fields of Meath is something that is going to strike fear into the heart of rural people," he said. Cllr Reilly, who is chairman of the environment strategic policy committee on Meath County Council, is looking for an immediate commitment that a grant would be made available to people in the event that these inspections are introduced. "I am on-site with young people all of the time who are trying to get their home built in their local parish. And aside from the hoops they have to jump through to live in the places they were reared, they are also hit with big planning charges," remarked Cllr Reilly. "I have organised for TD Éamon " Cuív to attend a public meeting in Navan on 13th September to address this important issue," he added. Calls for a government grant scheme to help householders in rural Meath affected by the proposal were also made at a county council meeting this week. Independent Cllr Francis Deane put down a notice of question at the meeting asking the county manager to state whether the proposed new system of inspections of septic tanks would be carried out by private operators or council staff, how often the inspections would carried out, and if the inspections would incur a charge for farmers and other rural-dwellers.