Mary White (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister. When the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Phil Hogan, announced in September that he would introduce a pre-registration fee, I got calls from county councillors who were terrified. The Minister used the word "hyperbole" but I do not agree, as these councillors want to get re-elected in the elections of 2014, In my experience county councillors are the people who keep rural communities together. Where would we be if people in rural communities were not committed to giving public service, which is what a county councillor does. They are in fear and dread that their constituents will not be able to pay the fees that will arise from this legislation. It is fine for the Minister to say that most of the septic tanks will be up to standard. That is not correct. The real problem is that so many of the existing septic tanks will not be up to standard.