IT IS “totally and utterly inequitable” that rural dwellers should have to pay for the assessment of waste water systems where urban dwellers do not, Éamon Ó Cuív has said.

The Fianna Fáil deputy leader was speaking at the Oireachtas subcommittee on the Environment, Community and Local Government yesterday, which discussed the Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011.

The committee was addressed by Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government Phil Hogan, who published legislation providing for the registration and inspection of septic tanks last month.

The minister has said that the Bill is necessary to ensure Ireland complies with a 2009 ruling of the European Court of Justice as well as improving water quality and establishing additional protections to the environment.

Under the legislation, householders with septic tanks would have to pay a registration fee of €50. Mr Hogan said yesterday that this cost would cover the complete administration of the system including inspections.

However, Mr Ó Cuív said that septic tank owners would be paying money to a local authority as well as having to pay to maintain their septic tank system.

He said his “principle objection” centred on the inequity of rural dwellers having to pay for sewage systems where urban dwellers did not have to do so.

“Where is the equality and equity in that arrangement that people in rural Ireland will have to pay and people in urban Ireland will not have to pay in similar circumstances?” he asked.