‘No decision’ made on domestic water tariffs - Tánaiste

Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore has insisted “no decision whatever” has been made in relation to the tariffs to be charged for domestic water.

Responding to weekend media reports about the size of water allowances for individuals and households, he said nothing had been decided about the level of free water allowances, or the tariffs which might apply after the free usage level was reached.

He said any comment on what those levels and tariffs might be was purely “speculation”.

Mr Gilmore also said he had “no idea” about weekend reports that Irish Water had spent €6,000 on a yoga-based, anti-stress laughter course for 300 Irish Water employees. But he said “the important thing is the expenditure that Irish Water is engaged in represents value for money for the Irish tax payer”.

He said modernising the way in which water was delivered was a very significant change “and it is Irish water’s responsibility to ensure that its expenditure in setting up of Irish Water represents value for money for the Irish taxpayer.”

Mr Gilmore told reporters water would be charged for in the manner set out in the Programme for Government. While this would include an allowance and charges, these issues had “yet to be determined”. He said as far as Labour was concerned charging would be at “the lowest extent possible” for hard-pressed families.

Asked a second time about the yoga - laughter classes at which some 300 staff reportedly attended Mr Gilmore said: “I don’t know what they have spent in that regard”. But he reiterated “Irish Water must be transparent and must be accountable”.