The decision by the Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan to impose a charge on households with septic tanks amounts to a blatant attack on rural dwellers in Donegal and across the country, according to Donegal North East Fianna Fáil TD Charlie McConalogue.
Deputy McConalogue said: “Minister Hogan has confirmed that he intends to hit 440,000 households nationwide with a septic tank registration charge. His climb-down on the value of that charge does not disguise the fact that it is a blatant attack on rural dwellers who are not in a position to avail of urban sewerage schemes.”
The Fianna Fail TD said the fee, whether this fee is €300 or €50, “the bottom line is that it is highly discriminatory.”
He went on: “The Minister cannot deny that he is effectively penalising Donegal homes that are dependent on septic tanks. They now have to pay this fee next year on top of the new household charge and the upcoming charges for water use. No matter how Minister Hogan tries to spin it, it’s blatant double taxation for rural householders.
“Other jurisdictions have avoided inflicting the cost of this process directly onto households. In Scotland, all septic tanks have to be registered but the households affected do not have to pay and there are no mandatory inspections. In Northern Ireland, any inspection costs are borne by the Northern Ireland environment agency.
“Fianna Fáil has led the charge against septic tank fees and we intend to continue that campaign in light of the Minister’s latest announcement. While we accept that the European Commission has set down rules for the licensing of septic tanks, it is completely and utterly unfair for Fine Gael and Labour to throw this directly onto rural communities while urban households are exempt.
“The fee announced today is the thin end of the wedge. The Government have made their agenda clear and rural households are concerned about what else is coming down the line. This Government must start implementing a greater degree of fairness and acknowledging the needs of rural communities.”
