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Septic tank charge stinks
23.08.11
DONEGAL North East Sinn
Féin TD, Pádraig MacLochlainn has described a mooted
€300 Government charge on septic tanks as "unfair
and unjust". Speaking following a packed public
meeting in Letterkenny organised by Marian Harkin
MEP, he described the proposed levy as a "tax too
far".
"Any suggestion that a registration charge be
applied to the 30,000 homes in Donegal with septic
tanks is completely unacceptable. For this
Government to take advantage of an old EU directive
as a means of raising additional revenue is unfair
and unjust and a tax too far," he said. |
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Marian Harkin MEP pictured with Cllr
Mary Kelly, Buncrana Town Council, Daniel Ward,
Drumnacarry, Creeslough and Seamus Quinn, Buncrana,
at a meeting the Independent MEP organised on Friday
in Letterkenny. |
In the Six Counties,
the cost of this EU directive, including de-sludging
once a year, site inspections and the cost of
upgrading septic tanks are either fully paid for or
grant aided by Government departments."
Deputy MacLochlainn admitted that, while Sinn Féin
would strongly oppose any new septic tank charge,
the party may be powerless to stop it.
"Sinn Féin will oppose forthcoming Government
legislation in the next Dáil term on how they intend
to implement this EU directive if it includes new
unjust taxes on families. However, we don't have the
numbers to stop it if the Government are determined
to proceed." He urged the people of Donegal to lobby
the county's Fine Gael and Labour party Oireachtas
members to oppose the move. |
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