New law on septic tanks ‘nonsensical’
NEWLY elected Chairman of the ICMSA’S Farm Services Committee, Annascaul’s Pat Rohan, has described as ‘absolutely nonsensical’ the lack of any detail or specific technical standards in the Water Services Bill, on septic tanks, which is currently before the Dail.
The Annascaul farmer also rejected the idea that any agency or local authority would be allowed to ‘fillin-the-blank-space’ after the bill was made law, agreeing with Fianna Fáil TD Eamon Ó Cuiv’s proposal that more detail needs to be set out.
“This has all the looks of another one of these fiascos where we are assured beforehand that the inspecting authorities – whoever they may be, because that’s not clear either – will be very reasonable and fair, only to then discover after the bill is made law that the standards that will apply are whatever standards the inspectors fancy”, said Mr Rohan, who is also the Chairman of Kerry ICMSA.
“I believe that these standards will have to take account of the age of the house or septic tank in question and the location of both. Provision must also be made for a reasonable period of time for the completion of any remedial works that might need to be undertaken. All of these matters are quite involved and will vary from region to region and district to district,” he said.
“While I fully accept that the details for all of these matters cannot be included in the primary legislation, the principles outlining such standards and the consultation process must be set down in the primary legislation,” he insisted.
He was also critical of the lack of an appeal system, other than to the District Court,
Meanwhile, Pat Rohan also confirmed that Kerry ICMSA will host a meeting on the proposed upgrading/widening of the N86 Tralee-dingle road at Annacsaul Community Centre on Tuesday January 24 at 8pm.