Law « Thurles Information

Health & Environment At Risk As Half Of Septic Tanks Fail Inspection.

Half of septic tanks failed inspection, putting householders’ health and environment at risk, says EPA.

Local authorities completed 1,390 septic tank inspections in 2024, targeted near rivers and household drinking water wells which are most at risk of contamination by faulty septic tanks.
56% of septic tanks failed inspection. It is critically important that householders maintain their septic tanks as such failures have the potential to be a risk to their family’s health and the environment.
82% of septic tanks that failed during 2013–2024 were fixed by the end of 2024, which shows continued improvement. This has been aided by an increased uptake in grants.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today released the report on Domestic Waste Water Treatment System Inspections 2024, which details the findings of septic tank inspections completed by local authorities in 2024.

Domestic waste water treatment systems, mostly septic tanks, are used by householders to treat sewage. There are nearly half a million systems in Ireland. The EPA’s National Inspection Plan 2022-2026 requires local authorities to complete a minimum of 1,200 inspections annually, targeted near rivers and in areas where septic tanks are co-located with household drinking water wells. 1,390 septic tanks were inspected in 2024 with 56% (773) failing because they were not built or maintained properly.

When septic tanks fail inspection, local authorities issue advisory notices to householders setting out what is required to fix the problem. The EPA report found that 82% of septic tanks that failed during 2013–2024 were fixed, (81% in Co. Tipperary) up from 75% at the end of 2021. The number of advisory notices open more than two years decreased for the first time, from 576 at the end of 2023, to 523 at the end of 2024.

Water Authority.	Inspections Required 2024	Inspections done 2024.	Failure rate 2024	Systems failing 2013-2024.	Percent fixed at end 2024.
Tipperary.	40.	42.	31%	182.	81%

Commenting on the report, Dr Micheál Lehane, (Director of the EPA’s Office of Radiation Protection and Environmental Monitoring) said: “The reduction in the number of old advisory notices (over two years) is to be welcomed, however, the number not resolved remains unacceptably high, allowing risks to public health and the environment to continue. Greater and sustained enforcement effort is needed by local authorities during their annual septic tank inspections, checking that faulty septic tanks are fixed and taking legal action where necessary.”

The grant schemes for remediation of septic tanks were changed at the start of 2024 to increase the amount from €5,000 to €12,000 and remove the requirement to have registered the septic tank in 2013. There were 265 grants awarded in 2024, totalling nearly €2.5 million, up from 194 grants in 2023.

Mr Noel Byrne, (EPA Programme Manager) said: “More than half of septic tanks failed inspection, which is a real concern. Householders’ water supplies and local rivers may be exposed to contamination from faulty septic tanks, which can pose a serious health risk to individuals and the local environment. By maintaining their septic tank and fixing any problems identified, householders will protect their health and the environment. Householders should take advantage of the enhanced grants where applicable.”

The National Inspection Plan for Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems 2022 – 2026 was published by the EPA in 2021. The plan requires a minimum of 1,200 inspections from 2023 onwards. There was a shortfall in inspections by four local authorities (Limerick, Donegal, Wexford and Leitrim) in 2024 and these need to be completed in 2025. The EPA will continue to monitor local authorities that are required to make up these shortfalls in 2025.

The report, Domestic Waste Water Treatment System Inspections 2024, is available on the EPA’s website.

Visa Requirements Applied To Trinidad & Tobago.

Trinidad and Tobago to be added to list of visa required countries.
Brings Irish visa requirements in line with the United Kingdom.

Minister for Justice, Mr Jim O’Callaghan TD, and Minister of State for Migration, Mr Colm Brophy TD, have today (Friday 9 May 2025) announced that nationals of Trinidad and Tobago will be required to obtain a visa before travelling to Ireland. These requirements will apply from May 12th 2025. A transit visa will also be required, if the person intending to transit through Ireland, if enroute to another destination.

Commenting on this announcement, Minister O’Callaghan said:
“Visa requirements are an effective screening measure to determine who can travel to Ireland. They bolster the security of our borders while permitting travel to Ireland for legitimate purposes.
To minimise disruption, my officials will have transitional measures for those with existing travel arrangements in the next few weeks.”

Irish visa requirements are kept under ongoing review, having regard to the need to ensure that effective immigration controls are in place whilst also facilitating those who wish to travel to Ireland for the purposes of a visit, to work, to study or to join family members.

Commenting on this announcement, Minister Colm Brophy added:
“This is a carefully considered decision which will bring Ireland into closer alignment with the United Kingdom. While Ireland will continue to operate an independent visa regime, keeping in step with the requirements of the United Kingdom protects our Common Travel Area and dissuades irregular movements.”

Nationals of Trinidad and Tobago who made travel plans prior to May 12th 2025 and who can provide evidence of a valid booking and payment for the trip, may be accommodated for emergency travel in the following situations where the scheduled travel is on or before May 31st 2025:-

A critical medical case involving a family member being seriously ill or undergoing medical treatment. Evidence from the relevant medical institution must be provided.
Visiting for a significant family event – a birth, wedding, or funeral. Suitable evidence must be provided.
Taking up a place obtained in a third-level institution on an undergraduate or post-graduate degree course. Evidence must be provided from the relevant institution.
Taking up employment and holding an Employment Permit for Ireland. Evidence of the permit issued by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment must be provided.
Travelling for business. Confirmation of the arrangements for the visit from the business in question must be provided.

Persons falling within the above categories are asked to email becoming_visarequired@justice.ie with the subject line “Visa Required – Emergency Travel Requested”.

Revenue Officers Seize €42,750 In Cash Using Search Warrant In Co. Tipperary.

Since the beginning of last week Revenue officers have seized contraband with an estimated value of some €355,000. The seizures were made in various operations in Tipperary, Dublin, the Midlands, and at Rosslare Europort.

The detections were made as a result of risk profiling and intelligence led operations, and included some 5.4kg of herbal cannabis, with an estimated value of €108,600; some 5,200 mixed tablets, with an estimated value of €10,300; cash to the value of €42,750, and some 561 counterfeit items, estimated in value at some €178,000.

Revenue detector dogs Ciara and Enzo discovered herbal cannabis and mixed tablets, while Revenue officers were examining parcels in Dublin and the Midlands. Same had been sent from France, India, and Holland and were destined for various addresses nationwide on the island of Ireland.

Ten weapons were also seized in searches in the Midlands, and separately, tobacco and alcohol products with an estimated value of almost €14,000, (representing a potential loss to the Exchequer of over €10,400), were seized in various operations in Co. Tipperary, the Midlands and in Co. Wexford.

The counterfeit goods seized were confirmed by the Rights Holder to have seriously infringed on Intellectual Property Rights.

During the operation in Co. Tipperary, Revenue officers seized cash to the value of €42,750 during the search of a property using a search warrant. On Friday last May 2nd 2025, Revenue officers were granted a 3 month detention order, in respect of the aforementioned cash, by order of Mr Justice Brian O’Shea at Clonmel District Court, South Co. Tipperary.

If affected businesses or members of the public, have any further information regarding such activities, they should contact Revenue officers, in strictest confidence, on Tel: 1800 295 295.

All the above seizures were part of Revenue’s ongoing operations targeting smuggling and shadow economy activities and further investigations remain ongoing.

Advertising Of “Sex In Lieu Of Rent”, To Become Criminal Offence.

Introduce two specific criminal offences around ‘Sex for Rent’.
Amend legislation on disclosure of counselling records in sexual assault trials.

The Minister for Justice, Mr Jim O’Callaghan TD, today secured Government approval for the drafting of legislation which responds to a range of pressing challenges for the criminal justice system, one of which we already published HERE

The proposed legislation also includes measures to criminalise the exploitative practice of seeking sex in lieu of rent and to ensure that counselling records are only released where the Court decides that they contain material relevant to legal proceedings.

The General Scheme of the Criminal Law and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025 will now be referred to the Justice Committee for pre-legislative scrutiny and, when its report is received, work on finalising the Bill will be prioritised.

Separately, it is proposed to introduce two specific criminal offences around ‘sex for rent’ (offering accommodation in exchange for sex) and the advertising of accommodation in exchange for sex.

The provisions encompass both rental agreements between landlords and tenants, and ‘rent-a-room’ situations. It is the offer or advertisement that is being criminalised – there is no requirement to prove that sexual activity occurred. The proposed penalty for these offences is a Class A fine of up to €5,000.

Another measure in the proposed legislation that will strengthen laws in the Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence area concerns new Bail restrictions on those accused of coercive control or imposing forced marriage.
Under the Bill, the two offences would be added to the schedule of the Bail Act 1997. This means that, under the new terms of an amended Bail Act, a court could refuse an application for bail made by a person charged with coercive control or forced marriage, if it considers it necessary to prevent that person committing a serious offence.

The General Scheme can be read in full HERE.

Irish Government Set To Approve Legislation Re. Face Covering.

The Irish government is set to approve new legislation which will allow a member of An Garda Síochána (Guardians of the Peace) to request anyone, found wearing a mask or other face covering, to remove same in certain circumstances.

If the request is met by a refusal, the individual would be seen to commit a criminal offence and could be arrested and prosecuted.

In many cases such masks are being worn to prevent personal identification during street protests or where an offence is being carried out, as observed during riots on the streets of Dublin recently

A change in our laws would also allow An Garda Síochána to seize the offending and cowardly masks or other face coverings.

The proposed legislation is being brought to Cabinet for approval today by Minister for Justice Mr Jim O’Callaghan. It was initially designed to tackle far-right protesters, but is now expected to extend further granting Gardaí a more wide-ranging power, based on their judgment of any serious situation as in the case of street crime in our towns and cities.

Garda sources have confirmed that many crimes, including road traffic offences on scooters and motorbikes, as well as assaults and thefts are perpetrated by young offenders wearing face coverings.

If approved by Cabinet, the general scheme of the legislation will be published followed by a pre-legislative scrutiny process. It is envisaged the legislation could be enacted as early as October of this year and will be seen by many as a welcome change to Irish law.

The Irish Council for Civil Liberties, however, is deeply concerned by any change to the law which criminalises the wearing of face coverings and states that people may want to wear face coverings for medical reasons; religious reasons or to protect their privacy. (Obviously, none of their membership have walked O’Connell Street, Dublin, after 6:00pm on a winters night.)