Galway sees last-minute rush to register septic tanks

By SIOBHÃÂN HOLLIMAN THERE has been a last-minute jump in the number of Co Galway homeowners registering their septic tank details ahead of Friday's deadline. However, with just two days left until the deadline for registration and payment of the €50 fee, at least 40 per cent of the systems eligible for inspection in the county have yet to register. Galway Co Council headquarters on Prospect Hill have been busy over the past week, with an increase in people registering and enquiring about the registration process. The local authority has also noticed a marked increase in the number of people calling to the local area offices, including the Tuam office on High Street, where members of the public can also make the payment.[private] As of Tuesday evening, the Department of the Environment said about 25,000 householders in Co Galway had registered. It's thought that between 40,000 and 42,000 systems in the county are eligible for registration. The Council has been dealing with more than 90 applications a day over the last few days and expects this to increase considerably up until Friday. Padraic Carroll of the Environment Section of Galway Co Council told The Herald that it has been busy all over the county during the last few days. 'We've had a lot of people calling to County Hall as well as to the area offices such as Tuam. We're expecting it to be quite busy over the next two days, with people leaving it to the last minute to register their system before Friday,' he said. While the Department of the Environment has indicated that the first inspections of septic tanks will take place early this year, and parts of Co Galway are likely to be among the first inspected, the Council hasn't been told when inspections will start - it could be as early as March. Local Co Councillor Seán Canney says he couldn't support a boycott of the charge and is advising people to register and pay the €50. 'I had always called for a grant system to be put in place. The grants announced are limited but there are available. If someone doesn't register and an inspection requires work to be carried out then they put themselves at risk of not being eligible for any grant,' said Cllr Canney. The Independent councillor said common sense must prevail and that a person choosing not to register by Friday is putting themselves at risk of considerable expense. While many systems are being registered online, www.protectourwater.ie, Cllr Canney is reminding people that payment will also be accepted at the Tuam Council Area Office on High Street and that all is required is an electricity bill to show the MPRN number of the septic tank address. Galway East TD Colm Keaveney is also urging people to register ahead of Friday's deadline. 'I would encourage people to register before Friday as compliance with the charge will be a necessary condition for the payment of any remedial grant that may be needed towards the cost of bringing the system up to standard,' he said. Deputy Keaveney added that after Friday, local authorities will begin investigating their own database and will move to ensure compliance with the registration. Fines of up to €5,000 may be levied on those who fail to register by the deadline.[/private]