Politics

Lack of action on water charges seven years after special committee ‘beyond disappointing’

Independent Senator Pádraig Ó Céidigh chaired a group that agreed households using 1.7 times the average annual water use should have to pay

The committee, which reported in 2017, recommended that households would not be liable to pay any water charges unless they were found to be using 1.7 times the average amount of water used by a household each year. Photograph: Rui Vieira/PA Wire

Harry McGee
Mon May 27 2024 - 06:00

The former senator who chaired the committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water in 2017 has said it is “beyond disappointing” that seven years later nothing has happened to implement its findings, particularly imposing water charges on households which use excessive amounts.

Pádraig Ó Céidigh, an independent senator between 2016 and 2020, chaired the all-party special committee which tried to come up with a consensus approach on how to fund domestic water services in Ireland. The 2016 election had been dominated by the issue after the previous government’s efforts to introduce water charges were met widespread protests and boycotts.

The committee, which reported in 2017, recommended that households would not be liable to pay any water charges unless they were found to be using 1.7 times the average amount of water used by a household each year. That threshold for charging was set at 213,000 litres.

Mr Ó Céidigh, a Galway businessman, said it was a “crying shame” that seven years later, little has happened and there is no sign of the committee’s recommendations being implemented.

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The Government is paying over €1 billion a year as support to Irish Water. There is no punishment for people who are wasting water

—  Independent Senator Pádraig Ó Céidigh

“It looks like the proposals have been thrown on the scrapheap. Obviously, the Government is not following the guidelines that were set out by the Committee and which were accepted by the Dáil and the Seanad. In my opinion, there has been no progress.

“The Government is paying over €1 billion a year as support to Irish Water. There is no punishment for people who are wasting water.

“This is such an important issue from an environmental perspective. It seems like they are throwing it on the scrapheap.”

Mr Ó Céidigh worked full-time on finding a resolution for almost six months in late 2016 and 2017 and held countless meetings, hearings as well as going on site visits.

The report, published in April 2017, recommended that the cost of domestic consumption of water services be met from general taxation rather than by means of direct charges on households, with the exception of levies or disincentives necessary to curb wasteful and excessive use of water services. This was enshrined in legislation later that year.

The average water allowance for households was set at 125,000 litres. Any household using more than 1.7 times that amount, 213,000 litres for more, were to be charged.

In 2019, the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities accepted those figures and also proposals that households with more than four occupants should be able to apply for an additional water allowance. Another exception was that those with medical needs should be able to apply for an exemption.

However, the arrangement was never initiated as it depended on a Government decision that has still not been made five years later.

Water services should continue to be funded through general taxation to ensure that people have access to water and wastewater services based on need and not ability to pay

—  Eoin Ó Broin

Asked about the status of the charges, a spokeswoman for Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien said that draft regulations on the additional allowance and medical needs allowance are in development.

“No charges will be implemented until this process has concluded.”

The Department did not provide a date on when this process will be completed.

Mr Ó Céidigh said a review of the report was due to take place after five years but it never happened. “It is beyond disappointing that nothing has happened after seven years,” he said.

Spokespeople for Opposition parties expressed the view that the charges will never be implemented.

Eoin Ó Broin of Sinn Féin said that domestic metered water charges were unnecessary and unwarranted.

“This Government does not have a mandate to introduce them. Water services should continue to be funded through general taxation to ensure that people have access to water and wastewater services based on need and not ability to pay.

“With respect to water conservation, the priority must be to reduce the high level of leakage within the water system through increased capital investment in upgrading the network. Sinn Féin will oppose any moves to introduce domestic charges and any move to privatise water services,” he said.

Cian O’Callaghan of the Social Democrats said: “Water charges were comprehensively rejected by the Irish people so it will come as a surprise to many that a plan to introduce them is being quietly worked on.

“Water must not be treated as a commodity. The commitment given years ago to hold a referendum to guarantee that water infrastructure remains in public ownership should be honoured.”

Harry McGee

Harry McGee

Harry McGee is a Political Correspondent with The Irish Times

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