Law « Thurles Information

Failure To Fix Tipperary Faulty Septic Tanks A Risk To Human Health.

Failure to fix faulty septic tanks is a risk to human health and the environment, and can’t continue, says Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Local authorities completed 1,189 septic tank inspections in 2023, targeted near rivers and household drinking water wells, which are most at risk of contamination by faulty septic tanks.
45% of septic tanks failed inspection. It is critically important that householders fix septic tanks that fail inspection as such failures have the potential to be a risk to human health and the environment.
Enforcement by local authorities is inconsistent and needs to improve, with Waterford, Roscommon and Kilkenny having the lowest rates of septic tank failures resolved.
Grants for fixing septic tanks have increased from €5,000 to €12,000.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today released the report on Domestic Waste Water Treatment System Inspections 2023, which details the findings of septic tank inspections completed by local authorities in 2023. Of the 1,189 septic tanks inspected, 45% (532) failed because they were not built or maintained properly.

Water Service Authority.	Inspections Required 2023.	Inspections Completed 2023.	Systems Failing between 2013 & 2023.	Percent Fixed 2023.
Co. Tipperary	40	40	169	only 72%

Comparisons: ‘Percent Fixed’ for Co. Louth was 98%, Co. Wicklow 97%, Fingal 97%, South Dublin 94%, Co. Longford 88%, Co. Cavan 89%, Co. Limerick 84% and Co. Cork 90%, leaving Co. Tipperary (shown on the above table) only moderately rated, when it comes to percentage of failures fixed.

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 has identified the number of inspections that need to be completed, particularly near rivers and in areas where septic tanks are co-located with household drinking water wells. Local authorities are required to complete a minimum of 1,200 inspections annually as part of their implementation of the plan.

Commenting on the report, Dr Tom Ryan, Director of the EPA’s Office of Environmental Enforcement said, “Faulty septic tanks are a risk to human health and the environment and must be fixed. The EPA, through the National Inspection Plan, has identified rivers and areas where household drinking water wells are most at risk of contamination by faulty septic tanks. Local authority inspections are targeted in these areas. It is critical that householders protect their family’s health and the environment by fixing the problems identified, drawing on the enhanced grants now available.”

Where 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 there were 576 cases where issues notified to householders over two years previously had still not been addressed.

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. This presents a significant opportunity for householders to fix their septic tanks and resolve open advisory notices.

Mr Noel Byrne, EPA Programme Manager said, “It is unacceptable that the number septic tanks left un-fixed for more than two years continues to rise. Greater enforcement is needed by local authorities to ensure failed systems are fixed. Where faulty septic tanks are not being fixed, particularly given the availability of the enhanced grant scheme, local authorities need to use their enforcement powers to protect the environment and public health.”

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 five local authorities in 2023 and these need to be completed in 2024. The EPA issued legal directions to make up for shortfalls in inspections by Waterford County Council in 2022 and to Galway County Council in 2023.

Another question for ‘Canvassing Councillors’ and ‘Would Be MEP’s’ calling to your door.

Keeping People Safe – An Garda Síochána Tipperary.

Community Gardaí from Tipperary are inviting persons to come along to the first in a series of talks in libraries in Thurles, Templemore, Tipperary Town, and Killenaule. Same is part of the Tipperary Bealtaine Festival and will focus on all matters aimed at keeping people safe.

The first of these events will take place this evening, Thursday May 2nd at 6:30pm–7:30pm in Templemore Library, No1 Main Street, Kiltillane, Templemore, Co. Tipperary, [E41 T8K8], where Garda Sergeant Raymond Moloney will lead discussions on Personal, Home and Internet safety.

Tipperary Gardaí Investigate Activities Of Munster-Based Criminal Gang.

As part of ongoing investigations aimed at the activities of a Munster-based organised criminal group; Gardaí stationed at Clonmel Garda Station, in South Tipperary have conducted a series of search operations at locations in Co. Tipperary and neighbouring Co. Clare, on dates including March 27th and April 30th 2024.

**One of the cars seized during Tipperary Garda search operations on April 30th last.**
*Image courtesy of An Garda Síochána.*

While as yet, no arrests are being immediately planned during this phase of search operations; Gardaí have confirmed that same represents a significant development in their current ongoing investigation.

During Garda searches, two cars, each valued at €60,000, were seized, together with €2,950 in cash. Five separate bank accounts, containing deposits totalling €17,000 have also been frozen; same confiscated under present Irish money laundering legislation.

Gardaí At Nenagh, In North Tipperary, To Host Property Marking Event.

Gardai at Nenagh in North Co. Tipperary will host a ‘Property Marking Event’ at Arrabawn Homevalue premises, latter situated at Tyone, South of Nenagh, on Wednesday next, May 1st, between the hours of 12:30pm and 3:30pm.

**‘Property Marking Event’**
*Picture courtesy of An Garda Síochána.*

Persons wishing to have items of property marked on that date, are reminded to please ensure they have their EIRCODE with them.

The machine being used can mark items including trailers, chainsaws, power tools, bicycles, lawnmowers, etc.

High Court Judge May Impose Custodial Sentence On Circuit Court Judge.

A former fifty-nine-year-old Circuit Court judge, who was also a former Dublin Secondary School Teacher; a Solicitor and a Thurles Fianna Fáil local District Councillor, is expected to be sentenced on May 29th next, having been found guilty of the sexual abuse/assault of six young men, some 30 years previously.

Mr Gerard O’Brien, a Thurles native, with an address at the Old School House, Slievenamon Road, Thurles, Co Tipperary, was earlier found guilty by a jury, in 2023, of one count of attempted rape and eight counts of sexual assault, in relation to the six unnamed complainants.

These offences are understood to have taken place in Dublin, between March 1991 and November 1997. Mr O’Brien was a secondary school teacher and aged in his late 20s and early 30s at that time, while the unnamed complainants were his students or former students. Latter were aged between 17 and 24 and are now aged in their 40s and early 50s.

Former barrister and now a Judge of the High Court since 2019; Mr Justice Alexander Owens has stated that it was likely he would impose a custodial sentence on Mr O’Brien and has asked for a report from the prison service about how they can meet Mr O’Brien’s needs in prison, in view of his obvious disabilities.

Mr O’Brien was born with the rare congenital condition, known as Phocomelia, which has resulted in him being born with no arms and only one leg; same injuries brought on by the congenital anomaly of the drug Thalidomide, brought into prominence as a characteristic side effect of the use of the drug thalidomide, used during pregnancy.

Mr O’Brien had initially denied all the allegations against him, but following the guilty verdict, he conveyed his resignation to the President in accordance with the requirements of section 6 (2) of the Courts (Establishment and Constitution) Act 1961, in early January of this year.

Mr Justice Alexander Owens has today questioned if the school could have done more to protect their students.