Cullen lining up an attack on rural households

by Phuq Hedd Fri Oct 17, 2003 01:24

is that if you try and put in one of the newer bio-fermenting disposal units then the council planners (in Wicklow at least) won't allow it, but if you apply for a septic-tank they do.

Ireland has a very high level of contamination of drinking water with faecal coliforms because of the practice of using both well water and septic tanks.

This is another area where the introduction of increased taxes on the upper echelons of society will be necessary to fund an improvement in the living standard and environment of all.

Hopefully with the resolution of the bin-tax dispute by raising revenues by taxation of those that are in the higher brackets a model will be set in motion for the rebuilding of Irish society.

Then we can look forward to further investments in rail infrastructure, hospitals and schools based upon the same model.

by Precision Man Fri Oct 17, 2003 01:25

300 Euro a year for what? If they don't pay, what action or non action would be taken. I don't know anything about septic tanks, but if Cullen brings in some kind of licencing system for THAT where will it all end. Some of you may be aware that centuries ago there were taxes on chimneys and windows, so why not a tax on say, doorbells? or on the number of birds in your back garden? or a tax on sunshine? or even toenails. The possibilites are endless.

Have to say though, I can't see anyone trying to run down any of Tom Parlon's crowd if they do any blockading.

by CD Fri Oct 17, 2003 04:08

we've been on the septic tank for 23 years, despite 23 years of trying to connect to the town sewage system (mid-kildare). unfortunatley survey says "fuck off, you don't matter"

and sure now they wanna build a big road thru our area - but, but, but, it means you will get on the town sewage!

FUCK OFF!

by NOB Fri Oct 17, 2003 11:20

It won't happen here, because we are so wonderful. We're all superheroes here in Galway.

Galway and Greens Abu.

by Mags Fri Oct 17, 2003 12:15

My folks operate on a septic tank and well system down the country. We paid for this ourselves, all of it. Dunno how much it cost to put in. We hire a guy about twice a year to come and empty the tank. The water pump goes kaput and needs expensive parts at least once a year. Not a penny for this ever comes from the council and they had no costs installing the system or maintaining it. So it is a bit of a mystery to me why we should pay the council for the honour of having a self financed sanitation system.

I do see the points about pollution, etc. But there was no option but this system. About 1974 the council started going on about extending public water supplies to our area and took up deposits from people. In 2001 they finally did put in some piped water, but not down our road. No public sewage system though. So what other option did people have for 30 years? None. Needless to say we never got the deposit back, I think it was about £50, which was a huge amount of money in the mid 1970s.

by Superhero - Greens Fri Oct 17, 2003 13:33

If this proposal is for real it looks very much like a re-introduction of rates for rural dwellers only.

While there is no question that the discharge from sceptic tanks is damaging to the environment, this is hardly going to solve the problem.

This would be much harder to justify than waste charges as no service is actually provided.

by Fiona Fri Oct 17, 2003 18:40

Is this to pay for the fines which Europe will impose on Ireland for failing to provide water of an acceptable quality to homes in rural areas. I believe that after Greece we've the worst water in Europe.

by am i a twat, so what? Fri Oct 17, 2003 18:46

A tax on rural people only you say, you'd be amazed at the number of dublin people who arent on mains sewerage either. I live within two miles of the new pumping station in sutton with all its fancy jargon, on a road that has been built up for over a century, not a single house around is on mains sewerage. With such a high concentration of houses traditional septic tanks arent really viable as the volume is a bit high, we have a bio cycle and it works okay but as someone above noted the damn things keep needing replacement pumps and they still need to be emptied every few years, its not cheap, and it constantly eats electricity, taxing us for having to provide our own system is ridiculous. I suppose now ill have to admit i live in howth, so as to warn you, on the southside of the hill there are a lot of traditional leaky septic tanks, so when you are on your pleasant sunday walk around the cliffs and the path is all sloppy even though it hasnt been raining, id advise cleaning your shoes and washing the dog when you get home.

by binned Sat Oct 18, 2003 18:21

but I still cant figure out the €600 a year tax notion. Could the author of the original post please provide a source for this story as I cant find any evidence of it anywhere on the internet. I hope it wasnt an attempt to incite anger etc.

by Niall ÓB - Greens Tue Oct 21, 2003 10:42

I didn't post it but this story was in the Connacht Tribune last Thursday.

by binned Tue Oct 21, 2003 10:50

I just checked out the site but they only have a summary of the article. Ive mailed them for a full article and Im going to mail Cullen and ask him directly. €600 for a two year certification seems illogical to me though

by Mags Fri Oct 24, 2003 15:04

What I don't understand is what is it to 'certify'?? That you have a septic tank? Or that you have had it cleaned?, or what?

If you have one you must have it cleaned when it is full, I mean you can hardly go about digging new ones each time.

Clearly it is just another new tax. I liked the suggestion someone made above about a 'doorbell tax'. I can forsee problems here, we have a doorbell but it does not work due to an accident involving paint stripper. So lots of letters and argument about tax reductions for non-functioning doorbells in prospect :)

by binned Fri Oct 24, 2003 18:03

that they are working properly is the most obvious reason. The fact that 40% or more of private water supply is polluted with coliforms etc is reason enough. But the threat to public health and the billions of euro fines coming from the EU due to the pollution is another. maybe.