ABOUT 440,000 SEPTIC tank owners in Ireland will have to pay a once-off €50 fee to allow for inspections to be carried out.

The charge was announced by Environment Minister Phil Hogan yesterday to ensure Ireland is obeying a European Court of Justice ruling.

Hogan said he envisages the “modest” fee to be no more than €50.

“This is not a money generating exercise; it is about protecting our water quality and our environment. While the majority of septic tanks may be working well, and in those cases the householders should have nothing to worry about, those tanks that are not working properly may be polluting groundwater and contaminating our drinking water supplies and must be remediated,” added the Minister.

It is expected that inspections will begin in 2013. All septic tank owners will also be required to register details of their system with local authorities.

The move has been criticised by Fianna Fáil, which says the charge penalises rural dwellers who will  now be subject to “double taxation”.

If inspections are not carried out, Ireland could be subject to fines of about €26,000 per-day, Hogan said.