Ó Cuív condemns Hogan for not publishing draft septic tank regulations as promised

Fianna Fáil TD Éamon Ó Cuív has said that the Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan has reneged on the promises he made on numerous occasions over the last few months  to Draft Regulations under section 70L of the Water Services Bill.  He promised to do so in the Dáil as recently as last week.  Instead has published a wooly discussion document that will have no force in law.  The regulations that will apply under this section will however have the force of law, and this is why the early publication of these regulations is vital.

Deputy Ó Cuív said: “I am calling on the Minister to publically confirm that the Water Services Act will not be commenced until these regulations are published and the Dáil has had a chance to scrutinise them. Even if this could take six months or more.

“In the meantime I am encouraging people around the country to make submissions to the Department in relation to all aspects of the proposed regulations and to make it clear to the Minister that unless the Act is amended to abolish the registration fee and other fees and that 100% grant aid is introduced for maintenance and upgrades, and issues in relation to Environmental Studies, Planning and Site Size are addressed, the Act in its present form is unacceptable to people in rural Ireland.

“In the meantime I have tabled a motion in the Dáil asking the Tánaiste to correct the record of the Dáil in relation to the publication of these regulations which he promised to me last week would happen this week,” said Deputy Ó Cuív.