Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore has refused to be drawn on the possible introduction by the Government of a flat rate water charge.
Mr Gilmore told the Dáil today that the programme for government made it clear that metering for water would be introduced and that there would be a free household allowance.
“The Minister for the Environment is progressing those proposals and when they are completed, they will be brought before the House,” he added.
The Tánaiste was replying to Socialist Party TD Joe Higgins, who said Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan had said yesterday there would be a utility charge to pay for the installation of water meters in each home.
He urged Mr Gilmore to be precise and say what the Government’s legislative proposals were on a water tax.
“The Labour Party said it was opposed to it, that meters would be a waste of investment,” he said. “Are you now going to renege on that and have a utility charge for people?”