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13/05/2014
Concerns Raised Over Risk Of Families Losing Free Water Allowance
Concerns have been raised following the announcement that customers who struggle to pay their water bill face having their free allowance cut off.
Irish Water confirmed that households will only get the free allowance if they 'pay their bills in a timely manner'.
Raising concerns over the news, Fianna Fáil Environment Spokesperson Barry Cowen, said that families who are struggling financially risk losing their free allowance altogether.
"This is yet another hidden sting in the tail of Minister Hogan’s water charges plan. If Irish Water operates like other utilities and gives households approximately 14 days to pay their bills, then we could see a situation where households that just can’t get the money together on time have their free allowance cut off entirely," said Deputy Cowen.
"There appears to be absolutely no tolerance for households that cannot pay their bills immediately. The Government has made no consideration of those families that are already struggling to pay all their other household bills and may not be able to pay a water bill on time on top of everything else.
"I also have concerns that Minister Hogan is being totally disingenuous about the true cost of water for households. If Irish Water is to cover its costs without a standing charge as promised, the price per litre will be .027 cent and not .016 cent as Minister Hogan told Cabinet it would be. The result is that families could face exorbitant annual bills."
(MH/IT)
Irish Water confirmed that households will only get the free allowance if they 'pay their bills in a timely manner'.
Raising concerns over the news, Fianna Fáil Environment Spokesperson Barry Cowen, said that families who are struggling financially risk losing their free allowance altogether.
"This is yet another hidden sting in the tail of Minister Hogan’s water charges plan. If Irish Water operates like other utilities and gives households approximately 14 days to pay their bills, then we could see a situation where households that just can’t get the money together on time have their free allowance cut off entirely," said Deputy Cowen.
"There appears to be absolutely no tolerance for households that cannot pay their bills immediately. The Government has made no consideration of those families that are already struggling to pay all their other household bills and may not be able to pay a water bill on time on top of everything else.
"I also have concerns that Minister Hogan is being totally disingenuous about the true cost of water for households. If Irish Water is to cover its costs without a standing charge as promised, the price per litre will be .027 cent and not .016 cent as Minister Hogan told Cabinet it would be. The result is that families could face exorbitant annual bills."
(MH/IT)
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