Rural householders are to be offered a reduced septic tank inspection fee of €5 if they register within the first three months of the new scheme.
In an apparent move to quell disquiet over proposed charges, Minister for Environment Phil Hogan today announced what he described as an “incentive for owners to register early”.
Under the proposed regulations, householders who do not avail of the incentive scheme will have to pay a registration charge of €50 to facilitate inspections of their tanks.
Speaking at a public meeting on the new scheme in Dundrum, Co Tipperary this evening, Mr Hogan said: “To act as an incentive for owners to register early, I have decided to set the registration fee at €5 instead of the proposed €50 for the first three months.
He encouraged householders to register before June 30th to avail of the lower fee.
“This legislation has been deliberately framed to minimise the impact on householders who can be assured that if their systems are working properly and are being maintained the impact of the new system will be minor,” he said.
Mr Hogan said he would formally announce the guidelines for the new scheme in two weeks which will be followed by a four-week public consultation period.
The Government has consistently argued that the proposed Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 is required to ensure Ireland complied with a 2009 European Court of Justice ruling, and to improve water quality and protection of the environment.
However, the regulations have been criticised by opposition TDs and rural groups who claim many rural householders have already paid large amounts on septic-tank construction and maintenance at personal, rather than taxpayers’ cost.
