Households to pay for water meters gradually

Householders will be hit for water meter costs but not immediately, the Government has indicated.

The Coalition was accused of another “fiasco” after issuing a series of contradictory statements over the weekend on what costs householders would face.

In a bid to end the confusion yesterday, the Department of the Environment said householders would face “absolutely no upfront charge” for water meters or their installation.

Instead, householders are likely to have to repay the costs of the meters gradually over time by way of a “standing charge” on their monthly bills from 2014 on.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny insisted householders would have to pay for meters, but that the costs would be kept to an “absolute minimum”.

“Somebody’s got to pay for them,” Mr Kenny said in Ballaghaderreen, Co Roscommon, while being heckled by campaigners protesting over local health service cuts.

Michael Noonan, the finance minister, said it was too soon to speculate about the costs and claimed the meters would ultimately prove to be of benefit to householders.

“It is premature speculating what costs there will be on the consumer.

“I see meters as the friends of the householder and the friends of business, because they will prevent people having to pay for water that is wasted.”

However, Fianna Fáil environment spokesman Niall Collins said the confusion within Cabinet was turning the issue into the latest Government fiasco.

“Already we are seeing worrying similarities with the communications disaster that surrounded the household charge. The confusion coming from the most senior levels in the Government about this very first piece of the water-charging jigsaw does not bode well for the future and is absolutely the wrong way to begin a debate on the issue.”

The Cabinet is due to discuss the issue today and there may well be tensions following the weekend’s developments.

On Sunday, the department initially confirmed that householders would be hit with the installation costs, only for Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore to insist no decision had been taken.

Mr Kenny then appeared to contradict both of these statements when saying householders would have to pay for the meters but not the installation costs.

The rollout of meters to over 1m households on public water supplies is due to begin by the end of this year and continue in 2013. Billing for water consumption will begin in 2014.

Householders will be given a basic free allowance and have to pay for any water they use above that threshold. The costs of the meter rollout will initially be met by the State, but are likely to be recouped from householders by way of the additional “standing charge” on their monthly bills.