Septic tank fee climbdown unlikely to dampen opposition

Phil Hogan’s decision to reduce temporarily the registration fee that will apply under the new septic tank inspection system is both a climbdown and a politicaltactic.

From April, when registrations will open, until the end of June, those who register their septic tanks will have to pay a fee of only €5. From July on, the originally mooted fee of €50 will apply.

The environment minister’s decision is a climbdown in the sense that he had previously made very clear the registration would be €50. “Everyone who owns a tank needs to register it in 2012 with their local authority for a one-off fee of €50,” he said & before Christmas.