Sinn Féin spokesperson on the environment, community & local government Brian Stanley TD is demanding that Minister Hogan extend the registration deadline for septic tanks.

Mr Stanley said: "The deadline for registration of septic tanks is this Friday, 1st of February. Registration comes at a cost of €50. Sinn Féin believes this fee should be waived and the deadline extended until March 31st. This would ensure full compliance and will save the exchequer from further fines being imposed by the EU.

"It was years of inactivity by consecutive governments which led us to the current crisis. Both Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil had ample time over the years to comply with the EU Directive on waste water. But instead they choose to bury their heads in the sand and now it is the householder who has to pay the price.

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"Sinn Féin fully agrees that we in Ireland must protect ground water and comply with EU directive. The upgrading of septic tanks to meet these standards should be fully funded by the exchequer. Residents in towns and cities did not have to pay extra charges to have waste water treatment plants upgraded so it would be unfair to expect households in rural Ireland to have to pay for this upgrading.

"While welcoming the recent announcement that grants are available, they are wholly inadequate. These grants are denied to those households who fail to register. It is only common sense to extend the deadline, waive the fee and make grants fully available for upgrading. This makes both financial and environmental sense."

(CD)