Fine Gael Waterford Deputy, Paudie Coffey, has welcomed news from the Minister of State at the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government, Jan O’Sullivan TD, that where remediation works need to be carried out on septic tanks, no planning permission will be necessary. Deputy Coffey said this is a sensible move that will allay […]

The 2013 Green Awards were on last night in the Burlington Hotel in Dublin and we were delighted to be shortlisted in two categories; Green Retailer and Green Entrepreneur. At the ceremony there were many business making a serious effort to minamise their impact on the Earth’s resources. Both large companies like Glaxosmithkline (winner of the large organisation […]

There’s a seanfhocail or Irish proverb that says wealth or money makes friendship. However, if it’s a payment written as Gaeilge to a certain bank, it may not always elicit a warm response. This was the experience of several Co. Mayo residents who tried to pay their septic tank registration fee with cheques made out to […]

Local authorities will carry out 1,000 inspections on septic tanks across Ireland over the next 15 months. The Environmental Protection Agency is training county council staff to carry out the inspections. Homeowners will get 10 days notice of the inspection in writing.An education and awareness campaign will be held first over a three month period. The […]

The Minister for the environment Phil Hogan has announced a grant scheme of up to 80 per cent of repair costs for those earning up to €50,000, up to a maximum of €4,000, and a 50 per cent grant for those earning up to €75,000, up to a maximum of €2,500. Systems which have not […]

On-site waste water treatment systems registered as a percentage of total as of Wednesday January 30th Dublin City Council 3% South Dublin County Council 40% Fingal County Council 43% Limerick City Council 43% Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council 44% Galway City Council 46% Donegal County Council 50% Louth County Council 51% Monaghan County Council 55% […]

Dysfunctional septic banks, for all the financial chaos they cause, don’t kill people.  Dysfunctional septic tanks, on the other hand, can and do.  E.coli – a nasty bug thrown up by many faulty septic tanks – most affects the very young and the very old.  Ireland has up to 500,000 septic tanks.  Private group-water schemes […]