The legislation that brings in the requirement to register septic tanks is in the  Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011

Basically all properties that are not connected to the mains sewage will have to register  before April 2013.
In the legislation a “domestic waste water treatment system“  means a system involving physical, chemical, biological or thermal processes, or a combination of such processes, utilised for the treatment or disposal of domestic waste water, or the sludge derived from domestic waste water, and includes—

(a) all septic tanks and waste water tanks and systems receiving, storing, treating or disposing of domestic waste water and all drains associated with such  tanks or systems, and

(b) all drains associated with the discharge of domestic waste water, whether or not they discharge to a septic tank or waste water tank;

It will be an offence not to register – and a conviction will result in a Class A fine – (Max €5000 ).
Read more information about Registration Charges for  Septic Tanks Here .

In comparison – non registration for the Household  Charge is an offence that could result in a Class C fine (Max €2500)

Back in September 2011  the government released some brief outlines of the proposed charges on Septic Tanks.  Many people referred to this as the “Septic Tank Tax”.

There have been delays getting the  Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 through the Dail – but it was finally passed in February 2012
It is going to mean yet another charge on top of the Household Tax for many rural homeowners.

This  legislation  provides for a registration and inspection system for septic tanks which is required to address a European Court of Justice ruling against Ireland.

It affects all domestic waste treatment systems – basically any property that is not connected to the main sewerage system.

Inspections of septic tanks and other waste ststems are expected to begin in 2013 and will involve checking as many as 400,000 septic tanks and waste treatment plants.  (At least it might create a few jobs)

All householders with septic tanks and other on-site systems will be required to register details of their system with the relevant local authority and a national register will be compiled and held by the EPA;

Householders will be required to pay a  septic tank registration fee :   The fee is going to be €50 – but anyone who registers in the first 3 months will only have to pay €5. See more about Septic Tank Registration Charges

Registration is expected to start in April 2012 and all households will be expected to register their waste treatment plants and septic tanks before April 2013.

Following the initial registration, householders will not be required to re-register their systems for several years – an interval of 5 years is envisaged between each registration; (No clarification is given on payment of re-registration fees)

- The revenue generated from registration fees will be used to fund the delivery of a national inspection plan which will be developed by the EPA and its roll-out will be managed by the local authorities;

Septic Tank Inspections will be concentrated on areas with higher risk to the environment and public health, they will also be carried out in lower risk areas but at a lower rate;

- Inspections may give rise to householders being advised to improve the maintenance of their systems or, in more serious situations, may require the upgrading or remediation of the treatment system.
The minister for the Environment staed in the Dail that he would ” do everything possible to ensure people do not experience financial hardship”.

If a householder is advised that their septic tank requires upgrading – they may appeal and apply for a re-inspection . This appeal will incur a fee – (not exceeding €200)

Note – Anyone who wants to apply to become a registered inspector of septic tanks  will also have to pay an application fee. (Not exceeding €1000 )

Householders are to be offered a reduced septic tank registration  fee of €5 if they register within the first three months of the new scheme.

This “early bird” incentive has been announced by Phil Hogan today. He said the normal fee of €50 will apply to registrations made after the first 3 months .  It is hoped this incentive scheme will ensure a speedy take up of the voluntary registration of septic tanks.

Septic tank Registration will begin in April 2012 -  and all tanks and waste treatment plants registered before June 30th 2012 will be charged a reduced fee of €5.

More details of Septic Tank Registration and Charges Here

Details of possible Fines for Non Registration here

Full details of how and where to register will be given here as soon as it is announced.

 Budget 2012 – Day One Main Points

Budget Day Two Main Points Here

Child Benefit reduced for 3rd and subsequent children – so that in 2 years time all children will receive €140 a month each – see more details here of Child Benefit Cuts.

Disability Allowance – The rates of payment for new claimants aged 18 to 21 are being cut from €188 to €100 a week .The rate for new claimants aged 22 to 24 is being cut from €188 to €144 a week. More Details Here   Underi8′s can no longer claim it .

Drugs Payment Scheme threshold to increase from €120 to €132 (savings of €12m)

Student registration charge -  increase of €250

Jobseekers Benefit -  The  payment week for jobseekers’ benefit will now be based on a five-day week rather than the existing six-day week . This will only affect claimants working part-time.

One Parent Allowance – no longer qualify after child reaches age 7 – more details of One Parent Allowance Cuts here

Rent Supplement – The minimum contribution by single tenants towards rent for the purposes of the Rent Supplement scheme to increase by €6 to €30 per week. The minimum contribution payable by couples will be €35 per week. (January 2012)

Winter Fuel Allowance – which is €20 a week and paid to people on low incomes or aged 66 and over :  the payout period will be cut by six weeks  ( reduced from 32 weeks to 26 weeks) – a total cut of €120  a year.

New post graduate students will no longer  receive maintenance grants

Back to school allowance of €200 will be abolished for two and three year olds.

Also Back to School allowance to be cut from €305 to €250 (aged 12 plus) and cut from €200 to €150 (11 and under)

School Funding – total cuts of   €24m a year  including   A reduction in capitation grants to schools of  2% in 2012 and 2013 and cuts of 1% in 2014 and 2015 Supervision/Substitution scheme – reduction in the administration fee payable to schools from 5% to 2% from 2012.

Abolition of Modern Languages in Primary Schools Initiative from 2012

School Transport : Primary charge increased from €50 to €100 and the maximum  primary family payment increased from €110  to €220

The grant of €635 paid at birth on all multiple births and further grants of €635 paid when the children are 4 years of age and 12 years of age will be abolished.

The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Mr Phil Hogan has given some more details about fees for the registration and inspection of Septic Tanks in Ireland.  The exact details though are still not known.

UPDATE   FEB 2012  -  Septic Tank Charges

All householders with septic tanks and other on-site systems (about 440,000 ) will be required to register their  septic tank or waste treatment system with the local authority. A national register will be compiled and held by the Environmental Protection Agency. Registration is expected to start sometime in 2012.

A  registration fee of no more than €50 is expected – but an axact figure has not been decided yet.  Strangely – there will be a requirement to  re-register the  systems  – an interval of once every 5 years was mentioned.

The money  generated will be put towards the  delivery of a national inspection plan which will be developed by the EPA in conjuntion with  local authorities;

Inspections  will begin in 2013 and will be  concentrated on areas with higher risk to the environment and public health, they will also be carried out in lower risk areas but at a lower rate.

Inspections may give rise to householders being advised to improve the maintenance of their systems or, in more serious situations, may require the upgrading or remediation of the treatment system.

The idea of a so called Septic Tank Tax  is still on the agenda.
The latest news is that there may now be a registration fee  for septic tanks and other waste treatment units .
As usual – the full details are not available. But apparentlythe Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan has said that   from 2012 the owners of homes with septic tanks will have to pay a “very modest” registration charge . A spokesperson is reported to have added that this fee would not have to be paid every year, but would have to be paid every few years.
No amount was mentioned !
It does seem a bit strange to call something a registration fee – but then ask people to pay it more than once!
Hopefully the government will have their plans worked out in time for Budget 2012 in December this year.
There are estimated to be about 400,000 septic tanks or similar small sewage and waste treatment plants in Ireland .
In England and Wales – the number is closer to 300,000.

In England there is a septic tank registration system – which is currently optional and FREE. It was originally going to be mandatory – but that is under review at the moment.
In Scotland the registration fee is £104 by post, or £77 online.
In Wales it is also free – and is mandatory (to be done by Jan 2012)

The idea of a tax on septic tanks in Ireland has been mentioned in recent weeks  – but the term “tax” is a bit misleading.
The so called Septic Tank  Tax is being mentioned because  a  European Court of Justice ruling found that Ireland has failed to make adequate legislation for dealing with domestic waste-water from septic tanks and other similar  wastewater treatment systems.
Ireland was required to adopt the necessary legislation, which ought to have been in place by April 1993.
This month Ireland is being sent back to the EU Court of Justice and the EU commission is asking the Court to impose a lump-sum fine of €2.7 million and a daily penalty payment of € 26,173

There are over 400,00 of these kind of waste treatment systems in Ireland – and they need to  be  maintained andregularly de-sludged  to keep them working properly,

In many cases homeowners never do anything about septic tanks or other  sewage treatment systems – and they could be  causing serious pollution.

There needs to be some sort of  licensing and inspection system  – and this will involve a cost  – probably to homeowners.
Most responsible owners of septic tanks will already have them checked and emptied at regular intervals – and that will already be costing them money.

It is expected that a mandatory inspection  system will be needed – which could  mean annual charges in the region of €80 or more for rural homeowners.