A NORTHSIDE local election candidate has criticised the Government’s announcement on water charge allowances and funding for Irish Water.
John Lyons, a People Before Profit candidate in the Beaumont-Donaghmede ward, was speaking after Minister for the Environment, Phil Hogan, outlined the details following prolonged discussions between the Coalition parties. They are as follows:
?¢ Free allowance of 30,000 litres per household,
?¢ Additional allowance to cover normal water consumption of children under 18 – effectively, water charges will not apply to children
?¢ Funding to Irish Water should allow for an average water charges bill of e240 per year; charging regime to remain fixed until end of 2016
?¢ Free first fix scheme announced for households
?¢ Charges to be capped for people with high water usage due to certain medical conditions
?¢ No standing charge
?¢ Accelerated metering programme
Mr Lyons pointed out that the average household uses 147,825 litres of water a year so the amount of free allowance would be just 20 per cent.
“Even if that household has one child under 18, you will still be paying for 60 per cent of your water,
? he told Northside People.
“There is no way you could live on that free allowance. You will have to limit the number of times you flush your toilet and time yourself in the shower.
?
Mr Lyons argued that following the Government’s statement, the amount of tax to be paid on each litre is still not known.
“Depending on your circumstances, you could be paying far more than e240 a year,
? he added.
Minister Hogan said the Government was united in its objective to ensure that water charges were as fair and equitable as possible for households.
“We have taken our time in recent weeks to get these decisions right, and the decisions we have taken give a clear indication to households of the likely level of charges they will pay, whilst striking a balance between protecting vulnerable groups and incentivising reduced water consumption,
? said Minister Hogan.
“The introduction of water charges and the resulting increase in water services investment are necessary if we are to ensure security of quality water supply for communities and industry, aid economic recovery and protect our environment.
?
Meanwhile, Age Action has given a guarded welcome to the Government’s plans for water charges and measures to protect older people.
However, the charity noted that the full impact of the charges on older people will not be known until all details of the tariff package have been decided.
Age Action spokesperson Eamon Timmins said that as with any national scheme, the devil will be in the detail.
“We need to see how these charges will pan out, but we note that the plan announced includes a number of key principles which, if properly implemented, should provide greater protection against poverty for older people,
? said Mr Timmins.
Age Action welcomed the decision to drop the original plans for standing charges, which would have penalised low income households, and especially older people living alone.