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Environment minister Phil Hogan may find it difficult to encourage homes to register for mandatory septic tank inspections. Laura Hutton/Photocall Ireland

Less than a fifth of homes register for septic tank inspections in €5 window

The discount registration window shuts next Friday – with only a fraction of the 437,000 tanks registered at the lower rate.

Updated, Sept 25

LESS THAN ONE in five eligible Irish households have so far registered for mandatory inspection of their septic tanks – just a week before the price for doing so increases tenfold.

Figures supplied to TheJournal.ie show that an estimated 88,200 homes had signed up for the inspections, which were made mandatory under laws enacted in February, by the middle of this week.

CSO figures derived from the 2011 census, however, show that there are 437,652 residential septic tanks in the State – meaning a compliance rate of just over 20 per cent.

The figures indicate little public appetite to register homes for the inspections, which are required following a European Court of Justice ruling which threatened Ireland with major fines for not enforcing rules on water protection and waste management.

When considering only registrations processed to date, the lowest compliance rate is in the Dublin City Council area, where homes are predominantly serviced by municipal sewerage schemes – but where there are still 1,591 residential properties served by septic tanks.

Of that number, a mere 25 have taken up the option of a €5 payment – with only days to go before the price shoots from €5 to €50 next Friday, ending a three-month promotional discount rate.

Waterford City has the highest payment rate, though that remains a mere 24.4 per cent – with 98 of the 402 eligible homes having registered for inspections. Wicklow is next, where 2,255 of the 10,399 tanks have been registered.

Cork City, Wexford, Kerry, Meath, Clare, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, Cavan and Limerick City are the only other councils which have a compliance rate of 15 per cent or higher.

After Dublin City, Donegal has the lowest compliance rate – with only 2,472 of the 30,383 tanks registered by this week, meaning a compliance rate of 8.14 per cent – while South Tipperary was next with 1,246 (or 9.6 per cent) of its 12,973 payments made.

The county-by-county figures do not include an estimated 24,500 applications to register tanks which are awaiting processing in the Local Government Management Authority offices, and a further 5,000 or so applications still to be processed at local council offices.

Households still have three months to register and pay the full €50 fee, but the relatively low payment levels in the special discount rate – which was conceived after the furore over the low compliance rate with the Household Charge – indicates that it may be difficult to encourage homes to do so.

Houses can register for the mandatory inspections online at www.protectourwater.ie.

Septic tank registrations: the figures in full

Note: These figures do not include an estimated 29,500 forms which have yet to be processed at LGMA headquarters or at local council offices.

  • Carlow: 749 of 6,260 (11.96%)
  • Cavan: 1,902 of 12,078 (15.75%)
  • Clare: 2,923 of 17,121 (17.07%)
  • Cork City: 83 of 429 (19.35%)
  • Cork County: 6,515 of 52,009 (12.53%)
  • Donegal: 2,472 of 30,383 (8.14%)
  • Dublin City: 25 of 1,591 (1.57%)
  • Dún Laoghaire: 250 of 1,480 (16.89%)
  • Fingal: 472 of 3,657 (12.91%)
  • Galway City: 106 of 944 (11.23%)
  • Galway County: 4,323 of 38,262 (11.30%)
  • Kerry: 4,848 of 25,976 (18.66%)
  • Kildare: 1,834 of 13,348 (13.74%)
  • Kilkenny: 1,951 of 13,444 (14.51%)
  • Laois: 1,254 of 10,401 (12.06%)
  • Leitrim: 814 of 6,089 (13.37%)
  • Limerick City: 45 of 300 (15.00%)
  • Limerick County: 2,533 of 21,813 (11.61%)
  • Longford: 746 of 6,538 (11.41%)
  • Louth: 1,083 of 9,648 (11.23%)
  • Mayo: 3,160 of 24,640 (12.82%)
  • Meath: 3,142 of 18,299 (17.17%)
  • Monaghan: 1,203 of 10,587 (11.36%)
  • North Tipperary: 1,588 of 11,544 (13.76%)
  • Offaly: 1,315 of 9,731 (13.51%)
  • Roscommon: 1,706 of 13,088 (13.03%)
  • Sligo: 1,363 of 10,200 (13.36%)
  • South Dublin: 193 of 1,815 (10.63%)
  • South Tipperary: 1,246 of 12,973 (9.60%)
  • Waterford City: 98 of 402 (24.38%)
  • Waterford County: 1,149 of 10,013 (11.48%)
  • Westmeath: 1,335 of 10,948 (12.19%)
  • Wexford: 4,019 of 21,242 (18.92%)
  • Wicklow: 2,255 of 10,399 (21.68%
  • State: 58,700 of 437,652 (13.41%)

Note: This article previously, and incorrectly, stated that the compliance rate was less than one in seven households. This was based on figures which did not include the number of forms awaiting processing at council and LGMA offices. Those figures have now been included.

Read: 1.65 per cent of septic tanks registered within first four weeks

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53 Comments
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    Mute Gerard
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    Sep 24th 2012, 8:05 AM

    Looks like phil is in bother again, I wonder who ties his shoelaces for him?

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    Mute richard fallon
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    Sep 24th 2012, 4:29 PM

    Eh? where have they got all those figures from, if they know how many tanks there are county by county, then they must know where they are, so why are we being told to register them in the first place??

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    Mute The Viscount
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    Sep 24th 2012, 8:14 AM

    Civil disobediance. Government rules at the consent of the public. Laws that are unjust are not laws as they fail to pass the “natural justice” standard. I hold to a higher principal.

    110
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    Mute Tom Mulligan
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    Sep 24th 2012, 9:18 AM

    when will we as a nation stand up and say enough is enough. if people keep paying this government will keep taking. charge aftr charge

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    Mute Continent Simian
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    Sep 24th 2012, 9:19 AM

    Good man. So what’s your solution? How do we assure all this toxic waste is dealt with safely?

    Fight the power, etc.!

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    Mute EMD
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    Sep 24th 2012, 9:36 AM

    Indeed Content Simian let us continue to drink & swim contaminated water.

    Yeah fight the oppressors…. down with that sort of thing

    12
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    Mute Tom Mulligan
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    Sep 24th 2012, 9:46 AM

    if your comment is to be continent simian. take the charge from my USC charge my income tax the indirect tax from petrol food clothing or any other thing I purchase. if you feel all they charges are ok then you must be earning a hell of a lot more than me. also where is all the tax going that we as a nation already put into the public purse.

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    Mute Paddy Rodgers
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    Sep 24th 2012, 10:53 AM

    Have a look at the huge fine your disobedience can bring down upon your head………three thousand Euro?. All an Inspectorate needs is obtain a copy of the last Census and a plan of the public sewage schemes and the homes attached and every other dwelling logically must have a septic tank. It will take time but the fines will more than cover the cost. Meanwhile any fines imposed by Europe on Ireland for non compliance will be immediately charged to taxpayers and guess how popular you’ll be with those who have registered or don’t have tanks.
    Laws by the way do not require the consent of the populace as you ignorantly claim. Once enacted by the parliament you must comply with them or face the consequences.

    10
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    Mute The Viscount
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    Sep 24th 2012, 11:30 AM

    Hi Paddy, wrong: enacted laws stand to be tested by the judiciary who will assess under a variety of criteria (natural justice, constitutionality etc). THEY have the final say. I’ll ignore the petty insults. I know I am right, and the courts will vindicate me in due course.

    18
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    Mute The Viscount
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    Sep 24th 2012, 11:40 AM

    Simian, would you aprove of a €5 (or 5000) Garda charge for them to inspect you annually and make sure that you are not breaking the law? How is this different?
    We should fine anyone who is not complying with the standards and use those funds for enforcement. People who comply with the standards should not have to pay.

    6
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    Mute John Doyle
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    Sep 24th 2012, 8:19 AM

    Phil Hogan has a face like a Septic Tank.. sorry but I have nothing else to say about this man..

    94
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    Mute jrbmc
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    Sep 24th 2012, 9:23 AM

    No John he is a septic tank !!

    49
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    Mute mcbab
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    Sep 24th 2012, 9:46 AM

    Very grown up of you.

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    Mute Paddy Rodgers
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    Sep 24th 2012, 2:55 PM

    The Viscount
    ……I know I am right…… Where have heard that arrogant comment before. So Mr Viscount ( I presume that is your surname ) and that you’re not using a sill name to prevent Phil Hogan from knowing who you are…..who is going to test a perfectly safe law in the High and Supreme Courts with the attendant monetary risks. I don’t think the State will believe this one to be a major point of Public interest.
    …….I know I am right…..a rock to perish on!

    1
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    Mute George Monahan
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    Sep 24th 2012, 8:41 AM

    Typical Fine Gael bullshit tax again. Pay us to come and look at your septic tank so we can tell you it needs to be upgraded. Feck off if ya think you’re getting any more money out of me….

    62
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    Mute Bláthnaid Belladonna
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    Sep 24th 2012, 8:29 AM

    It’s unfair that people in d countryside have to do it while the people in towns and cities get away with this.

    49
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    Mute boildyeggs
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    Sep 24th 2012, 8:58 AM

    Remember we will be landed with water charges. A standalone dwelling with a private well will not carry the water charge, not that I agree with any of these charges.

    21
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    Mute jrbmc
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    Sep 24th 2012, 9:26 AM

    Yea that’s right people in the cities get away with murder ! Like having to pay 40 or 50 thousand more for a house the same size if not smaller the the ones

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    Mute Christopher Gardiner
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    Sep 24th 2012, 10:09 AM

    oh the towns and cities argument again. Don’t even go there. The cronism in rural gobbeen Ireland is well known to city people. We all have cousins and relations in rural ireland who like to crow how hard they have it but wake up and deal with reality. Are you saying we are privileged in cities because we can flush the toilet. Its called progress and a human right.

    18
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    Mute Gerri McCaffery
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    Sep 24th 2012, 11:36 AM

    Because it’s for septic tanks which people in towns don’t have!!!!!

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    Mute Joe Nonscripta
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    Sep 24th 2012, 12:11 PM

    blathnaid do you really have to go down the “us vs them rural vs urban “rd. this gov is merely using the ploy of dividing the coping class in all sections of our unfair, unjust method of taxed to the hilt irish lives.
    the sooner we as a people wake up to this the better.

    11
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    Mute One-Off Ireland
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    Sep 24th 2012, 2:10 PM

    This statement is factually incorrect ‘It’s unfair that people in d countryside have to do it while the people in towns and cities get away with this.’

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    Mute Biggins31
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    Sep 24th 2012, 8:40 AM

    Stuff him – and stuff his disgusting party and government.

    48
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    Mute MaverickPaw
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    Sep 24th 2012, 8:27 AM

    that’s a shite state of affairs…

    48
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    Mute Biggins31
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    Sep 24th 2012, 8:48 AM

    Don’t pay your septic tax?
    Next up notion they will have – you lose your driving licence or medical card!

    Don’t forget to pay your Household media charge now like good chaps!

    38
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    Mute noel g thomas
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    Sep 24th 2012, 9:11 AM

    Another FG unjust tax Hogan you idiot

    31
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    Mute Stray Mutt
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    Sep 24th 2012, 9:26 AM

    Noel.
    This tax was not Phils idea.
    This is legislation conjured by the EU.
    Ireland has opted a long time ago to be part of the EU.
    Hence the generous financial assistance from same.
    But with this assistance came conditions.
    The septic tank charge is one of them.
    If Phil does not perform in this matter Ireland will be heavily fined.
    If you choose to remove Phil from office, someone else will take over.

    17
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    Mute noel g thomas
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    Sep 24th 2012, 10:09 AM

    Hey mutt we are going to be fined for not protecting our waterways from pollution. So if this bunch of idiots in government were to take this seriously they would go after the real offenders, industry and village town and city treatment plants that are not up to scratch. Septic tanks cause less than 5% of pollution. So mutt don’t even try defend these idiots, they should grow some Liathroideen and do the right job and stop bullying the irish people further

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    Mute Christopher Gardiner
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    Sep 24th 2012, 10:16 AM

    @straymutt, sorry but we didn’t buy into oppressive rules and regulations. EU regulations are destroying the country and health and safety rules gone mad. They banned burning any kind of fossil fuel too when we joined up and not to save the air but to force us to buy Oil and Gas which still has as much Co2. I agree we got grants but its obvious now they are taking billions more then they gave and governments have handed over the rights to all our natural resources as part of this EU arrangement. I’d rather poor roads and lesser money than have no control over our own country which is what we have now.

    19
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    Mute Stray Mutt
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    Sep 24th 2012, 10:39 AM

    Noel.
    Please read my comment again.
    I am not defending anyone.
    The fact that the EU is now controlling environmental issues is there to stay.
    Hogan doesn’t have much say in this matter.

    5
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    Mute Stray Mutt
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    Sep 24th 2012, 10:47 AM

    Christpher.
    You are getting close to understanding where I am coming from.
    The EU is perfecting their masterplan.
    With the consequence that member countries suffer financially etc.
    You can give Hogan a verbal bashing 24/7.
    But he is merely a puppet whose strings are pulled by the EU.

    12
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    Mute noel g thomas
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    Sep 24th 2012, 11:28 AM

    Sorry now mutt but I don’t believe for one minute that this government can not make some changes to how they are handling all these septic tank charges, SAC dedications etc.. But they are delighted there are people like you out there who will so they can continue on with there favourite lines like “there is nothing we can do it is European legislation” or ” this is the mess we have been left to deal with from the previous government”
    Fed up listening to it mutt and to be honest I am also fed listening to people like you.
    This country no longer needs people who conform to all political will on such issues as these it is past time we had someone in power who is willing to fight for the rights of the people of Ireland

    you out there who will

    5
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    Mute Joe Nonscripta
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    Sep 24th 2012, 12:24 PM

    stray mutt
    do ye not know that our kommendants in the eu give more aid in socalled development aid to china,brazil,russia and barbados than they do to it,s own member countries( true).
    so far the british are the only ones to question this policy,
    our own socalled ministers have said nothing.

    5
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    Mute boildyeggs
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    Sep 24th 2012, 2:40 PM

    Stray mutt, I think you might be inaccurate in some of what you say. True the Eu have regulations with regard to the quality of the ground water but its up to each individual state on the manner in which these are implemented. Hogan has decided on generating capital on the back of a good piece of legislation, penalising those who have already applied planning laws when constructing their houses. It’s nothing more than another attempt to pilfer from the ordinary joe to satisfy his paymasters in the IMF.

    4
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    Mute Christopher Gardiner
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    Sep 24th 2012, 10:04 AM

    I am so happy to see that people in Ireland are finally refusing to see the false logic and lies in these charges. They say its to comply with water safety but again the real label is Bank Bailout. And it is very interesting to see that a pattern emerged that shows the South East of Ireland apparently has the most timid people in the country who are easily scared into conforming with this corrupt government. Well done to the people of Donegal and more power to ye. Lets have the courage to say NO to these cruel unjust taxes to bail out the rich.

    23
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    Mute Stray Mutt
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    Sep 24th 2012, 10:53 AM

    Christopher.
    I wholeheartedly agree with you.
    It is good to see the majority of Irish people objecting to unreasonable austerity measures and EU bullying.
    I have always advocated this in the past.

    7
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    Mute Briain O'Dochartaigh
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    Sep 24th 2012, 10:29 AM

    If they know how many have ‘registered’ and how many haven’t,then surely they must have a record of the number of septic tanks in the country. I know my local council have a record of mine. So my point is these tanks must be all ready ‘registered’. So why register again

    22
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    Mute Kerron Ó Luain
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    Sep 24th 2012, 11:39 AM

    Why does the article have the website link to pay the charge at the bottom. Sort of encouraging if you ask me. If they’re going to have that link, why not be balanced at least and put a link to the CAHWT website too!?

    15
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    Mute Real Ireland
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    Sep 24th 2012, 8:33 AM

    In the style of the Simpsons

    HA HA

    15
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    Mute Jack Daniels
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    Sep 24th 2012, 10:43 AM

    The money walks and bullshit talks..Best form of protest is not to register or pay this charge. The funds collected will leave the country and pardon the pun and we’l still be left to wallow in the shit.The Family Home Tax is also unfair and their will be no proper reform in this country if we keep conforming to unjust lazy crazy taxes.

    11
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    Mute Brendan O'connor
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    Sep 24th 2012, 11:58 AM

    This country is a joke there must be a way to get rid of this government before the next election or we will be all broke and speaking German

    10
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    Mute Jack Daniels
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    Sep 24th 2012, 10:47 AM

    Big Phil nothing big about Phil at all .

    8
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    Mute Kevin Mooney
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    Sep 24th 2012, 12:43 PM

    how do they know there is that many septic tanks if they’re not even registered!?

    7
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    Mute Adam Pamplin
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    Sep 24th 2012, 12:22 PM

    If they already know how many septic tanks there are in each county why is there a need at all to register??

    7
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    Mute Dave O'Shea
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    Sep 24th 2012, 7:44 PM

    My septic tank is 30 meters from my house, it’s 500 meters from the nearest natural water source and 100 meters from the mains…. It’s functioning 30 years… Needs emptying once very 5 years ( not even necessary ) never smells , it’s in PWO.. I have no problem anyone coming to inspect it but I will not pay for the luxury of being told its fine and most certainly will not pay to upgrade a perfect septic tank… I also have no problem paying for water when they take the poisonous fluoride out and it’s metered , I will also pay my household charge when they have sorted out how it’s graduated. Until then go f*** yourselves….. In conclusion , do things correctly and fairly and I WILL comply… Sin a bhfuíl.

    4
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    Mute Catherine lonergan
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    Sep 24th 2012, 3:41 PM

    Hahaha bloody delighted because yer “taxes” are nothing but con charges forcing the citizens of Ireland to pay for things that should still be free whilst ye pocket the benefits.

    In my own words UP YOURS :)

    http://www.change.org/petitions/supporting-the-irish-nation-step-down-from-government

    4
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    Mute One-Off Ireland
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    Sep 24th 2012, 2:14 PM

    alot of nonsense on here about this issue

    The case is C-188/08: Septic Tanks: On May 13, 2011 The European Commission returned this case to Court seeking a lump-sum fine of €2.7 million and a daily penalty payment of € 26,173 for the continued absence of a licensing and inspection system required by this judgment.

    end of story.

    4
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    Mute boildyeggs
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    Sep 24th 2012, 2:54 PM

    The court in Luxembourg has ruled that every county in the Republic, with the exception of County Cavan, has failed to comply with the 1975 EU Waste Directive governing septic tanks and other treatment systems.
    The government had argued that Irish legislation was sufficient to regulate domestic waste water systems, and that there was no need to transpose the EU directive into Irish law. But the EU court dismissed the claim, concluding that Ireland had failed to meet its legal obligations.
    Thanks for this info. It does clear up a lot with regard to the registration of septic tanks.
    It would also seem we are paying for the continued mistakes of previous governments stretching back to 1975 for not implementing proper inspection regimes. So we are being fined due to inept governance. Super stuff.

    7
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    Mute Jonny California
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    Sep 24th 2012, 11:56 PM

    Register your shite
    What next pissing quotas .

    3
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    Mute Catherine lonergan
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    Sep 24th 2012, 3:41 PM

    Hahaha bloody delighted because yer “taxes” are nothing but con charges forcing the citizens of Ireland to pay for things that should still be free whilst ye pocket the benefits.

    In my own words UP YOURS :)

    http://www.change.org/petitions/supporting-the-irish-nation-step-down-from-government

    2
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    Mute Caroline Hughes
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    Sep 27th 2012, 9:55 PM

    Yet another nail in the coffin of this treasonous government. What part of this don’t they get, the people have said NO, The people are Sovereign-full top! The IMF,EU and ECB can go to hell!

    1
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    Mute John Canno
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    Oct 1st 2012, 8:55 AM

    Good. I hope nobody else is stupid enough to register.

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    Mute Sasha Musgrave Travers
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    Sep 30th 2012, 6:54 PM

    We should say to the eu that we will leave it, if they keep threatening us with fines because we are not updating our septic tanks, and I would advise people now to join the campaign against house, septic tank and water charges and don’t register and don’t pay.

    1
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