Regulator Urged To Stop Standing Water Charge

The Energy Regulator has been urged to reject Irish Water's request to impose a standing charge of €100 on all households before the use of any water.

The standing charge would apply to all households and be separate to the water charges to be imposed once the metering process is complete.

Both Sinn Féin and Fianna Fáil have criticised the move.

Sinn Féin spokesperson on the Environment Brian Stanley said: "If Irish Water are allowed to impose a Standing Charge then domestic users will be charged four times. They will be paying water charges and a Standing Charge, on top of their taxation being taken from the central exchequer and the proceeds of the Local Property Tax being in effect handed to Irish Water to meet escalating costs.

"I am calling on the regulator to reject this request, and for Minister Rabbitte to make a statement to the Dáil backing up his contention this morning that there would be no Standing Charge imposed."

And Fianna Fáil's environment spokesperson Barry Cowen has demanded clarity from the Environment Minister Phil Hogan.

"Far from receiving a free water allowance as promised, we are now told that Irish Water wants to force every single household to pay €100 before they even turn on their taps. They will then clock up water charges of several hundred euro on top of that," Deputy Cowen said.

Adding: "We need to hear from the Environment Minister Phil Hogan now. Minister Hogan set up this bonus driven super quango, and he has ultimate control over its budget and its remit. He has spent the last few months dodging every single question about how much households will have to pay for their water. It’s becoming glaringly obvious that the Government is doing everything it can to avoid coming clean about this issue ahead of the local and European elections in a cynical attempt to salvage as many votes as possible.

"It’s time for Minister Hogan and his Fine Gael and Labour colleagues to start putting people before politics, and provide some clarity to households about the charges that will kick in in less than 6 months’ time. This kite-flying must stop. All aspects of the charging structure must be published without further delay.

"I am calling on the Government to honour its commitment to providing households with a free water allowance, instead of forcing them to pay a hefty charge before they even turn on their taps."

(MH/IT)