Water charges could apply for decades, says Gilmore

Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore has stressed the importance of getting the arrangements around water charges right - as they could apply for up to 20 years.

Mr Gilmore said progress had been made on the issue this week and that the Cabinet was edging “closer” to an agreement.

“We’re anxious to get this done as quickly as possible, but we also need to get it right because what we put in place is an arrangement which will last probably for the next two decades,” he said.

Asked whether the Government would consider a cap or price freeze on the water charge, Mr Gilmore said the Coalition was looking at how the charge for individual households could be reduced.

He said water conservation would be an important factor in doing this.

“That’s why we have been putting such an emphasis on having a charging regime based on a formula where there will be a free allowance and then charges based on metering,” he said. “What we’re looking at really are ways the individual family and individual householder can reduce their bill.”

Taoiseach Enda Kenny this week said he hoped to have all the details on the charges available before polling day in the local and European elections on May 23rd.

A final decision was expected to be made at Wednesday’s Cabinet meeting, but Mr Kenny said the matter was not discussed at that stage because of a busy agenda.

The water charge is expected to cost some €240 per house each year. A Labour demand for the abolition or reduction of a potential €50 annual standing charge per household has complicated the discussions.