The official date for the introduction of water charges remains January 1st next, Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan said yesterday but he indicated there may be further discussions with the troika.
Free water allowance
Mr Hogan said the Economic and Social Research Institute and the Energy Regulator were carrying out studies on the appropriate level of the charges and the amount of free water that should be available. He said they should know the scale of charges in two or three months.
In response, Fianna Fáil finance spokesman Michael McGrath warned that if water charges begin on January 1st on top of property tax it will push some people over the financial cliff.
Mr Hogan said that, as part of the agreement negotiated with the troika by the Fianna Fáil-led government in 2010, water charges were due to commence on January 1st, 2014.
He added it was a matter for the two Ministers who dealt with the troika to discuss the date: “There are very few Ministers or politicians in this country that would not like to see some respite for people who are going through a difficult time.”
However, the Minister said he was operating on the basiswater charges would start on January 1st and so was the newly established body Irish Water.
Free water allowance
Mr Hogan said the Economic and Social Research Institute and the Energy Regulator were carrying out studies on the appropriate level of the charges and the amount of free water that should be available. He said they should know the scale of charges in two or three months.
He also said there were a lot of positives in the reform of the water system. As well as water conservation and elimination of leakages, more than 2,000 jobs would be created in water metering.
Mr McGrath later queried what form charging for water would take, given that it would not be feasible to introduce metering from January. He wascritical of Mr Hogan who suggested yesterday that Minister for Finance Michael Noonan and Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin could engage with the troika about the timetable.
“Minister Hogan seemed to be putting it up to Michael Noonan and Brendan Howlin to get the start date pushed back.
“That is not really the kind of leadership we need,” said Mr McGrath. He said there needed to be a full national audit of the water network before water metering could start.
The water restrictions in Dublin continue.
