GALWAY COUNCILLOR CALLS NEW SEPTIC TANK CHARGE 'SMOKESCREEN'

Date Published: 07-Feb-2012

A Galway county councillor claims reducing the registration fee for septic tanks is merely a 'smoke screen'.

Independent councillor Seán Canney says reducing the fee from 50 to 5 euro is intended to confuse the public as the major issues of costs is not addressed.

Almost 200 people attended a meeting on the new charges in the Harbour hotel in the city last night.

The meeting was part of a national campaign calling for a boycott on payments for household, water and septic tanks.

Environment Minister Phil Hogan last night revealed the the registration fee for septic tank inspections would be reduced to 5 euro for the first three months, to incentivise people to sign up early.

The Minister says he doesn't expect there'll be a widespread problem of tanks failing inspections.

But Minister Hogan says if the cost of cleaning up a tank is too steep, he could look at some kind of assistance for householders