This article is from page 10 of the 2012-07-03 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 10 JPG
AN estimated 28,000 Clare households can expect unwelcome mail this week as the Local Government Management Agency begins writing to home-owners that still have not paid the contentious household charge.
According to the agency, as many as 27,762 Clare households registered for the charge last month, 354 of which received waivers.
However, the CSO’s preliminary figures puts the number of houses in Clare at more than 55,800.
Not all of those who have not paid will get letters immediately, as an example will be made of just a percentage.
Chair of the Household Charge Project Board, Jackie Maguire said the first batch of homeowners who have not yet paid the charge has been taken from a sample set “following an initial data comparison between the Household Charge database and other databases as set out in the Act”.
Meanwhile, householders with a septic tank will be asked to pay up again within the next three months.
From now until September 26, owners of domestic wastewater treatment systems are required to register their systems with Clare County Council.
A once-off registration fee will apply, starting at € 5.
After September 26, however, the free will increase to € 50. Owners will then need to renew their registration every five years, at no cost.
Homeowners can register online at www.protectourwater.ie, in person at any local authority office in the county or by post to Protect our Water, PO Box 12204, Dublin 7.
Inspections of septic tanks will by carried out by the EPA from next year. Householders have been warned however that all inspectors will carry identification and should not be allowed on to any property without it.
Meanwhile the Chairman of ICMSA’s Farm Services and Environment Committee, Pat Rohan, said that the Minister for the Environment must now ensure that provisions are put in place to assist rural-dwellers that may have to incur significant costs in upgrading their sewerage systems.
He said a properly funded grant scheme must be introduced for rural dwellers to ensure compliance with the new regulations.