21/05/2014
Fianna Fáil Launch Website To Show "Real Cost" Of Water Charges
A website highlighting the alleged "real cost" of water charges has been launched by Fianna Fáil.
The party claim that the website will "blow the whistle" on government spin surrounding water charges.
According to Fianna Fáil, the website uses Central Statistics Office figures to calculate that a family of five, with average water usage, will face annual water charges of over €436 a year for basic water use. A four-person household, where all residents are over 18, faces annual water charges of over €491 a year. A one-parent family with two children will pay more than €250 a year. It’s only a two-person household with modest use of water that will pay less than the Government’s ‘average’ charge at approximately €205 a year.
Fianna Fáil’s Environment Spokesperson Barry Cowen said: "This shows just how disingenuous the government has been about the real cost of water for families across the country.
"Fine Gael and Labour have not been honest with householders. It’s very clear, based on CSO figures on water usage, that any household with more than 2 adults will pay far in excess of the government’s declared annual charge.
"This government’s insistence on setting up the gold-plated super quango Irish Water has significantly driven up the cost of water for households across the country. Irish Water has already spent €180 million of taxpayers’ money on outside consultants. Its entire focus has been on recruiting 500 staff with generous perks and bonuses and setting up a structure to charge people. Meanwhile not one leaky pipe has been fixed and no improvements have been made to water quality. And local authorities will continue to deliver the water service for the next 20 years.
"Only a quarter of all households will be fitted with meters by the end of this year. It means that contrary to all the Government’s promises, the vast majority of households will be hit with flat rate charges next year. In addition, those who cannot afford to pay their water bills on time risk losing their free allowance altogether and having their water pressure reduced significantly.
"The extent of the government’s dishonesty on water charges is becoming clear. With just 5 months to go until households begin to rack up this additional charge, it’s time for the government to come clean on exactly what people will be forced to pay."
(MH/CD)
The party claim that the website will "blow the whistle" on government spin surrounding water charges.
According to Fianna Fáil, the website uses Central Statistics Office figures to calculate that a family of five, with average water usage, will face annual water charges of over €436 a year for basic water use. A four-person household, where all residents are over 18, faces annual water charges of over €491 a year. A one-parent family with two children will pay more than €250 a year. It’s only a two-person household with modest use of water that will pay less than the Government’s ‘average’ charge at approximately €205 a year.
Fianna Fáil’s Environment Spokesperson Barry Cowen said: "This shows just how disingenuous the government has been about the real cost of water for families across the country.
"Fine Gael and Labour have not been honest with householders. It’s very clear, based on CSO figures on water usage, that any household with more than 2 adults will pay far in excess of the government’s declared annual charge.
"This government’s insistence on setting up the gold-plated super quango Irish Water has significantly driven up the cost of water for households across the country. Irish Water has already spent €180 million of taxpayers’ money on outside consultants. Its entire focus has been on recruiting 500 staff with generous perks and bonuses and setting up a structure to charge people. Meanwhile not one leaky pipe has been fixed and no improvements have been made to water quality. And local authorities will continue to deliver the water service for the next 20 years.
"Only a quarter of all households will be fitted with meters by the end of this year. It means that contrary to all the Government’s promises, the vast majority of households will be hit with flat rate charges next year. In addition, those who cannot afford to pay their water bills on time risk losing their free allowance altogether and having their water pressure reduced significantly.
"The extent of the government’s dishonesty on water charges is becoming clear. With just 5 months to go until households begin to rack up this additional charge, it’s time for the government to come clean on exactly what people will be forced to pay."
(MH/CD)
Related Irish News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
27 May 2016
Irish Water Must Not Bill Homes With Boil Water Notice - SF
Householders living in areas with a boil water notice must not be billed by Irish Water, Sinn Féin TD for Cork East, Pat Buckley, has said.
Irish Water Must Not Bill Homes With Boil Water Notice - SF
Householders living in areas with a boil water notice must not be billed by Irish Water, Sinn Féin TD for Cork East, Pat Buckley, has said.
30 March 2016
EU Water Framework Directive Will Not Force Water Charges - FF
The proposed EU Water Framework Directive will not force any new government to retain water charges, Fianna Fáil's Spokesperson on Public Expenditure and Reform, Sean Fleming, has said. Deputy Fleming has said that the 'polluter pays' principal in the directive does not bind Ireland to the imposition of domestic water charges.
EU Water Framework Directive Will Not Force Water Charges - FF
The proposed EU Water Framework Directive will not force any new government to retain water charges, Fianna Fáil's Spokesperson on Public Expenditure and Reform, Sean Fleming, has said. Deputy Fleming has said that the 'polluter pays' principal in the directive does not bind Ireland to the imposition of domestic water charges.
13 March 2024
Translink Workers Reject Pay Offer
Translink NI workers have rejected a pay offer from the public transport company. Unite, GMB and SIPTU confirmed that their members has "decisively voted to reject as inadequate" a pay offer made by Translink management. Workers were offered a 5% pay increase and a non-consolidated one-off payment of £1,500 for the 2023-2024 financial year.
Translink Workers Reject Pay Offer
Translink NI workers have rejected a pay offer from the public transport company. Unite, GMB and SIPTU confirmed that their members has "decisively voted to reject as inadequate" a pay offer made by Translink management. Workers were offered a 5% pay increase and a non-consolidated one-off payment of £1,500 for the 2023-2024 financial year.
25 August 2015
TEEU Calls For Govt To Abolish Water Charges
The Technical Engineering and Electrical Union (TEEU) is calling on the Government to abolish water charges with immediate effect. The union made the call after it revealed it had joined the Right2Water Campaign.
TEEU Calls For Govt To Abolish Water Charges
The Technical Engineering and Electrical Union (TEEU) is calling on the Government to abolish water charges with immediate effect. The union made the call after it revealed it had joined the Right2Water Campaign.
14 January 2015
More Than Half Of Irish Water Customers Now Registered
More than half of Irish Water customers have been registered to date, the company confirmed. Some 760,500 households, or 56.3%, of those eligible for water charges are now registered.
More Than Half Of Irish Water Customers Now Registered
More than half of Irish Water customers have been registered to date, the company confirmed. Some 760,500 households, or 56.3%, of those eligible for water charges are now registered.