MIRIAM LORD'S WEEK:BUSINESS SHOULD be brisk for the septic tank de-sludgers in the run-up to Big Phil's new inspection regime, which is due to begin sometime next year.

Good news so for Mattie McGrath, who is in the plant hire business in Tipperary and offers a septic tank de-sludging service as part of his operation.

Mattie tells us he charges €150 to pump out a tank, although he sometimes drops the fee to €50 if the householder is struggling to make ends meet. It seems like a win-win situation for the colourful Independent Deputy for Tipperary South.

If the protests against Big Phil’s new septic tank regulations are successful, he’ll be pumping out dodgy old tanks as always. But if, as is more likely, the new system is implemented, it should mean even more work for South Tipp’s septic tank crusader.

Not so, insisted McGrath, when we asked him about this during the week. He told us the new regime would significantly raise the costs for de-sludgers, as they would have to pay big money for licences and meet strict Environmental Protection Agency guidelines for the proper disposal of sludge.

This could see charges go as high as €450 to clear a tank and many householders wouldn’t be able to afford this, he said.

According to the Department of the Environment, a licence is already required for anyone clearing tanks for other than domestic reasons, and they must dispose of the waste in accordance with the regulations.

But an obliging farmer or fella with the right class of pump and tank is often the most popular port of call for septic tank customers. Permits don’t usually come into it. Disposal tends to involve spreading the sludge on the land.

We never thought to ask the de-sludging deputy McGrath how much he paid (if there is a charge) for his current licence as, presumably, he doesn’t fall into the category above.