Sir, - Your report on the estimates vote of Dun Laoghaire/ Rathdown County Council gives the impression that all the members of Fianna Fail voted for the estimate, which imposes a massive 15.8 per cent increase in the 1997 water charge over 1996.
The charge goes up from £95 to £110, and I could not support this imposition on householders. Instead I proposed that water charges be abolished and that the shortfall be made up by bringing in comprehensive controls for the council, for management and for staff to manage jointly all aspects of the council's expenditure, income and costs, with particular emphasis on controlling costs.
I could not and did not vote for this inflationary £55.67m estimate, which is an overall increase of 6.2 per cent while inflation is running at 1.5 per cent. I would be grateful if you would clarify the misleading impression given in your report. - Yours, etc.,
Meadowbrook,
Dundrum,
Dublin 16.