Rural dwellers to be ‘taxed’ for services - Kilcoyne

RESISTING NEW MEASURES Cllr Michel Kilcoyne.

Rural dwellers to be ‘taxed’ for services - Kilcoyne


Anton McNulty

The introduction of water charges and a licence for the maintenance of private septic tanks are more forms of taxation on the rural community, according to an Independent councillor.
Water charges are expected to be introduced in the next three years following the installation of meters in every household, while households who have a septic tank will be required to have their waste systems regularly inspected.
Householders will have to obtain a licence to prove their septic tanks are compliant with regulations and face fines if they are found to be non-compliant. It is estimated that tens of thousands of houses in rural areas are supported by septic tanks that do not comply with EU regulations on waste water.
Independent Castlebar councillor Michael Kilcoyne said this new rule will have serious consequences for a number of householders in Mayo who he said will have to pay thousands of euros for new septic tanks or face being heavily fined.
“It can cost a householder between €5,000 and €7,000 to change their septic tank and they will get absolutely no help from the government. This is really serious and I’m not sure people have any idea how serious this is and what’s coming down the line. People will have to pay to get a permit for their septic tank which is another form of taxation,” he said.
Last week the Minister of State for Environment Fergus O’Dowd said that they had no choice but to introduce water charges because it was part of the IMF deal but this was rejected by Cllr Kilcoyne.
“In the worst days ever in Ireland we had free water. This is a tax on the people. I don’t accept we have to do it because of the IMF. Ireland is still a republic and not a county of Europe. A lot of these cuts were in the Fine Gael manifesto and people knew what they were voting for; it is sad that it is happening. What is happening is our water is being privatised by the Fine Gael and Labour government and while they may be 20 years behind Thatcher they are following the same policies.”
The establishment of a new water authority, Irish Water, which will take over supply and maintenance from the local authorities was also announced. Cllr Kilcoyne fears that this could result in Mayo householders facing the same problems as those experienced by householders in Northern Ireland over the Christmas.
“Private companies will be looking after our water and it will be provided to us in the same way as in Northern Ireland. We all remember what happened in Northern Ireland last Christmas when for two to three weeks thousands of people were left without water. It led to resignations up there ... but I would expect nobody to resign here,” he concluded.