Dublin South West Sinn Féin TD, Seán Crowe, has claimed that Government dishonesty regarding the real price that will be paid by consumers for water will impact on their candidates in the forthcoming elections

Crowe was speaking as the Government continued to dither on announcing what the rate water will be charged at, whether there will be an additional standing charge, and whether there will be a subsidy for those on low incomes or with larger families.

He believes that the Government will attempt to delay the final figure as long as possible, in a phony war over the charge, to lessen the impact the on the local and European election campaigns.

Deputy Seán Crowe said:

“While Labour and Fine Gael continue to dither in a phony war over the actual water rate to be charged, whether there will be an additional standing charge, or whether there will be a subsidy for those on low incomes or with larger families, the bills will still be sent out to households.

“I believe that they are being dishonest in claiming that Irish Water will be able to accurately tell households how much they will be paying for water over the next few years.

“The Taoiseach is on record as saying that Irish Water will be able to borrow on the open market to meet its running costs above what it will take in from its customers. It is Sinn Fein’s understanding that the derogation which the state received from the EU Water Framework Directive in 1997 – requiring that the user of water must pay for its recovery costs – will not apply to Irish Water.

“That will mean that Irish Water, and by extension its end user, will have to pay for the maintenance and upkeep of the water system through water charges, and a possible standing charge.

“In that event the Government is in no position to be able to state what the overall cost to domestic users will be going forward. At current running costs it is estimated that the average household charge could be as high as €560.

“The parties who have supported the creation of a new water entity – Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, and Labour – must take full responsibility for the added burden to be placed on households and should pay a high price at the forthcoming Local and European elections

“One small piece of good news, that I got confirmation on from the Taoiseach Enda Kenny during week, was that there will be no VAT charge on the Bills. A small concession but a welcome one for hard pressed taxpayers.”

ENDS