Sinn Féin Calls For Meter Scheme To Be Scrapped

The Minister for the Environment, Alan Kelly, has been urged to instruct Irish Water to scrap the metering campaign and "use the resources to replace lead pipes".

Making the call, Sinn Féin Senator, Trevor Ó Clochartaigh, said the money was being wasted by Irish Water, which "would be much better employed in replacing lethal lead piping".

"If the government are serious about their concerns for people's health this is what they should be doing," Senator Ó Clochartaigh said.

"There should be an audit in all local authorities to ascertain how many houses have these pipes. The planning offices should have a good idea and these should be replaced as a matter of urgency.

"It is estimated that Galway City alone has around three thousand houses in this situation. These figures need to be clarified across the country and you don't need water meters to do that.

"Even if we agreed with the government on the need for domestic metering, which Sinn Féin doesn't, the government by their own admission does not need to meter water supplies for a number of years as they are charging flat rates to householders. The supply of proper, consumable water should be the number one priority.

"Minister Kelly needs to provide for every family that needs to replace these pipes. Many people simply cannot afford to do it themselves as they are under so much pressure already trying to make ends meet – and in many cases they were not even aware these pipes were in use in their homes.

"It's time for the Minister to scrap the meters and get the lead out!"

(MH)