Help for homeowners struggling to pay for septic tank upgrades ^Featured

Deputy Mulherin said she made a number of representations to Minister Hogan on the septic tank issue and she strongly welcome his assurances that people who face difficulty in paying for upgrades to their septic tanks may receive assistance from the State.

Said Deputy Mulherin: "I also welcome his confirmation that inspections will focus on areas where it is believed there is risk to ground water contamination.

“The septic tank inspections will help identify where groundwater, which is the source of much of our drinking water, has been contaminated as a result of faulty or dilapidated septic tanks. The scaremongering of people in rural Ireland which has been conducted by some Opposition TDs is reprehensible. Despite much political scaremongering, the overwhelming majority of people in rural areas are responsible people who want to be assured of clean water and do not object to the €50 once off registration fee.

Negative picture

“I would like to remind these opposition TDs that many of us Government TDs represent rural Ireland first hand and the negative picture they paint in relation to the septic tank registration fee does not tally with what I am hearing on the ground.

"Most would think it fair that if their septic tank or their neighbours’ septic tank was polluting their drinking water, the problem has to be remedied. And in relation to fears about the expense of remedial works, which might not be affordable for some, the Minister has provided reassurance to them in response to my request.

“The need for septic tank registration and inspections came about as a result of a 2009 European Courts of Justice ruling which found against Ireland in the treatment of waste water from septic tanks and other onsite waste water treatment.

"On account of this we are facing a lump sum fine of €2.7 million and a risk of daily fines of €26,000. Despite the last Government’s promises to facilitate the inspection of every septic tank in the country, nothing was done. As a result this Government must deal with the problem as a matter of urgency.

“As things stand we don’t know the extent of the risk to human health and our environment being caused by contamination to our ground water. A fundamental objective of the new legislation is to enhance and protect public health and the environment which will in turn benefit rural dwellers in terms of a better quality of life and better quality water.”