Environment « Thurles Information

Local Authorities Failing To Enforce Repairs To Rural Septic Tanks

Malfunctioning septic tank systems are posing a risk to both people’s health and the environment, with nearly half of septic tank systems failing inspection in 2017 and 2018.

The EPA is responsible for the development of a National Inspection Plan for domestic waste water treatment systems. The current plan covers 2018-2021. Under the plan, local authorities are required to undertake a minimum of 1,000 inspections each year, distributed by risk across the country.

Domestic waste water treatment systems are used by rural householders to treat sewage. There are nearly half a million systems in Ireland and most (90%) are septic tanks.

Householders needs / must fix malfunctioning septic tank systems and the Government’s proposed expanded septic tank grant scheme is therefore welcome as part of addressing this serious issue.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) yesterday released a review of over 2,000 inspections of septic tanks and other domestic waste water treatment systems in 2017 and 2018. Nearly half of the systems failed inspection because they were not built or maintained properly. Faulty systems can contaminate household wells and pollute rivers. Householders should now avail of the proposed expanded grant scheme, when it becomes available, to address the problem of malfunctioning septic tanks.

Commenting on the report, Dr. Tom Ryan, Director of the EPA’s Office of Environmental Enforcement stated, “If you do not maintain your septic tank, it can contaminate your own or your neighbour’s well or your local stream, putting your health at risk and that of your family and neighbours. You can take simple steps to maintain your septic tank by making sure it is not leaking, ponding or discharging to ditches and by cleaning it out regularly.”

The report also found that nearly one third of systems that failed inspections during 2013-2018 are still not fixed. Local authorities need to take appropriate measures to ensure householders fix systems that fail the ongoing inspections.

Mr Noel Byrne, Senior Scientist in the EPA’s Office of Environmental Enforcement stated, “It is important that householders fix systems where problems are detected. To improve water quality, the government’s proposed expanded septic tank grant scheme, due to be launched later this year, will increase the maximum grant aid available to €5000 and remove the means test requirements.”

For further information: Contact Niamh Hatchell/ Emily Williamson, EPA Media Relations Office Tel: 053-9170770.

See “Inspections of Septic Tanks” HERE also

Sinn Féin Withdraw Recount In Euro Parliament Election

Sinn Féin have withdrawn their earlier request for a full recount in the recent European Parliament election for Ireland South. Same decision was made following initial recounting of 755,9876 ballots, which began this morning, further indicated that no major ballot anomalies had taken place.

Following the initial count last Thursday, the Sinn Féin MEP, Ms Liadh Ní Riada, stood to lose her seat by some 326 votes, to the Green Party candidate Tramore, Co. Waterford Senator Ms Grace O’Sullivan.

Following a demand by Sinn Féin, it was deemed necessary by the Mr Martin Harvey (Returning Officer) to grant a full recount following a day long recheck of votes which saw Ms Ní Riada gain just a single vote, thus reducing her then deficit from 327 votes to 326.

Ireland South EU Election results now stand as follows:

Fine Gael MEP and former GAA President Mr Sean Kelly topped the poll and was elected on the ninth count, while on the seventeenth count, the former Fianna Fáil Minister Mr Billy Kelleher was elected. Wexford Independent TD Mr Mick Wallace and outgoing Fine Gael MEP Deirdre Clune were both elected without reaching their required quota of 119,866. Ms Ní Riada’s transfers will now decide the alignment of the two remaining seats, that of Ms O’Sullivan and Ms Clune.

Tipperary Public Participation Network

What do you want your community to look like in 10 years?

Tipperary Public Participation Network (Tipperary PPN) are delighted to be rolling out a new National Initiative on Community well-being. The PPN is bringing together social inclusion, environment and community development voices in our communities to develop a “Well-being Vision Statement” that sets out their shared vision for County Tipperary.

What is Community Wellbeing?

Well-being is an increasingly common term that can describe wider conditions than just good physical and mental health, which we need as individuals and communities in order to have a better quality of life, a healthier environment and increased prosperity.

Some of these are things that we can easily measure e.g. the number of pre-school places, or the speed with which an ambulance can get to a sick person. Others are less easily measured, e.g. our pride of place, our heritage and the way in which we all look after each other.

All aspects of well-being are connected to each other. So, for example, if our natural environment is poor, it will affect our mental and physical health as well as our economy. In other words, all the parts of our community well-being are interconnected.

Let’s develop our vision for community well-being for the Cashel / Tipperary Municipal District.

Community Well-being Vision being developed in Cashel / Tipperary Municipal District, County Tipperary

So, what do we need for the well being of the community of Cashel / Tipperary?

That is the question being posed by Tipperary PPN, and we want to hear from all the groups and organisations in this area. Feed into this important vision for your area by starting a conversation and attending a public meeting on Wednesday, May 29th, 2019, in Kilfeacle Community Centre, Moatquarter, Kilfeacle, Co. Tipperary.

Remember
Date: Wednesday, 29th May, 2019
Location: Kilfeacle Community Tennis Club. E34 YP98
Time: 6:30pm- 9:00pm – Registration from 7:00pm
Refreshments on arrival.

Developing a Vision for Community well-being means thinking about what we have and what we need to help Cashel / Tipperary Municipal District to be as great as it can be, for us and for the many generations that will follow into the future.

All the information gathered on the above stated night, will be brought together and used to influence policy, thus guiding the work of the PPN and its representatives; in influencing policy and working towards achieving community goals.

On the night Tipperary PPN will look at community well-being under six headings as follows.

Social and community development.
Environment and sustainability.
Economy and resources.
Health (physical & mental).
Values, culture and meaning.
Participation, democracy and good governance.

By using the above six headings across all the country, we can see whether we resident in Tipperary have the same concerns and indeed causes for celebration, as do others.

Further information on the well-being vision which is been rolled out around the country can be found HERE .

EPA Climate Change Lecture

Dr Edward Cameron will present an EPA Climate Change Lecture at the Mansion House this evening, Friday (May 18th 2019) as part of the National Dialogue on Climate Action.

This lecture is entitled “New Climate Leadership for a Low Carbon, Climate Resilient and Inclusive World”
Please NOTE: For readers who are interested in hearing what Dr Cameron has to say, the event this evening will be streamed live from HERE.

The lecture, chaired by Dr John Bowman, will begin streaming sharp at 7:00pm, followed by a ‘Questions and Answers Session’, before ending at approximately 8.15pm.

Dr Cameron has worked on climate change and human rights for over two decades. He has served with the European Union; the government of the Maldives; the World Bank; the World Resources Institute, and more recently has spent five years as Managing Director at Business for Social Responsibility, encouraging hundreds of corporations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance climate resilience.

Originally from Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin and currently living in the United States with his wife and two sons; Dr Cameron is currently a senior advisor to numerous governments, multinational companies, and non-profit organisations. He holds a PhD in Social Sciences, Business and Economics, having conducted ten years of doctoral research on climate justice.

In this evenings public lecture, Dr Cameron will discuss the importance of climate leadership.

Ms Laura Burke, EPA Director General stated,
“Strong leadership is essential for tackling the challenge of climate change. This involves taking hard decisions to put us on the right trajectory to meet our emission reductions obligations and build resilience to the inevitable impacts of a changing climate. It also entails being able to seize the opportunities that should arise during the transition.
Dr Cameron is a climate specialist with many years of experience in the areas of climate change and human rights. We are looking forward to hearing Dr Cameron’s vision for climate leadership as we transition to a more sustainable future, from his experience with the World Resources Institute and elsewhere.”

Thurles Woman Loses Court Case Following A Fall In Local Car Park

A woman who slipped on a patch of icy ground in a Thurles car park three years ago; fracturing her ankle, has lost her action for damages before the High Court having sued Tipperary County Council.

Sixty one year old Mrs Mary Burke, Kylecrue, Drombane, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, had sued Tipperary County Council, following a serious fall which occurred in the Council car park, on February 15th, 2016. Mrs Burke had gone to a parking ticket pay station, which was on a raised concrete plinth, and having completed the transaction she stepped down onto a tarmacadam surface, before she slipping on ice.

The court heard that Mrs Burke, as a result of the fall, had suffered a very nasty fracture of her left ankle and had to be operated on to insert a medical plate and pins.

Mr Justice Kevin Cross stated in his judgement that he could not say that the subsidence in the car park surface, where the ice had accumulated, was due to any negligence or indeed bad workmanship by Tipperary Council.

Mr Justice Cross awarded costs of the one-day hearing against Mrs Burke, but stated that he would be pleased if Tipperary Council decided it would not enforce the costs order against her.