Fianna Fáil is seeking an urgent meeting between Mayo County Council and the Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan to discuss his plans to hit septic tank owners in Co Mayo with multiple fees from next year. The Fianna Fáil members of Mayo County Council are to bring forward a motion calling for radical changes to the Water Services (Amendment ) Bill, with a view to introducing a much fairer system of registering and upgrading septic tanks in Mayo.
Cllr Damien Ryan said: “Fianna Fáil is totally opposed to Minister Hogan’s Septic Tank Bill in its current form. The legislation penalises homeowners who do not have the luxury of access to heavily subsidised sewerage schemes. Urban dwellers are not expected to bear the cost of upgrade and maintenance works, so my question is, why should rural dwellers be faced with these costs on top of the household charges and water charges being imposed by this Government from next year?
“The way in which this Bill was introduced was disgraceful, as are the continued attempts by the Government to stifle debate on the matter. Minister Hogan attempted to publish it under the radar, and it wasn’t until Fianna Fáil raised the matter in the Dáil that it emerged the legislation has already been published without any announcement, press release, or press conference from the Minister. Such a controversial piece of legislation that affects 440,000 homes across the country requires proper scrutiny.”
Cllr Ryan went on to say: “Working closely with my Oireachtas colleagues, I am proposing a number of changes to this Bill. I am calling on the Minister to immediately hold discussions with the local authorities in relation to the implications of this legislation on their resources, and to defer the taking of the Bill for six months so that the cost, standards, and other implications can be fully addressed. I am also calling on Minister Hogan to introduce a national free de-sludging scheme for domestic households each year. In addition to this, we propose that the registration fee be scrapped and a grant scheme be provided to homeowners requiring upgrades to their septic tanks. While we recognise that a European Court judgment requires the registration of septic tanks, it is simply unacceptable that homeowners should be hit with the entire cost of registration, appeals, and upgrades. I am seeking an urgent meeting between Mayo County Council and Minister Hogan to discuss these proposals. This is a crucial issue for homeowners particularly in rural areas in Mayo and their concerns cannot be ignored.”
