Landlords can evict tenants for water bills

A junior minister has effectively admitted that Irish Water amendments will allow landlords to evict tenants if they fail to pay water charges.

Paudie Coffey, minister of state at the Department of Environment, confirmed the situation after a series of proposed changes to the Irish Water Act were published on Thursday amid opposition claims that the moves are being sneaked in through the back door.

The Waterford-based Fine Gael minister rejected criticism of the changes, which were among 33 pages of amendments to the Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, which deals with a series of department-related matters.

He said there was nothing substantially new and “no surprises” in the document, despite widespread concern over the fact it will oblige landlords to provide information on tenants to Irish Water, put an obligation to pay in all new tenancy agreements, and introduce a database for those who have paid water charges.

The proposed amendments also include a ban on house owners selling their property unless their Irish Water bills are up to date.

However, despite repeatedly insisting nothing of concern was taking place, Mr Coffey confirmed to RTE’s Morning Ireland that the eviction of a tenant by a landlord for not paying their bills was now a genuine prospect.

“That’s a matter for the landlord and the tenant,” he said when asked for the fourth time if the situation will now occur, after previously saying “landlords must ensure tenants pay their utilities”.

Mr Coffey described criticism of the policy, which will become law if it is passed by the Dáil next week, as scaremongering.

His view was shared by Tánaiste Joan Burton and Health Minister Leo Varadkar at a separate event yesterday.

Meanwhile, the Government has also insisted it was not attempting to secretly transfer €540m from a taxpayer-funded account to make Irish Water financially viable before key EU tests later this year.

Speaking to the Irish Examiner, Independent TD Catherine Murphy said that, as part of the multiple changes, section 79 of the Local Government Reform Act will be altered to allow for the transfer.

She said under the changes, €540m will be moved from the local government fund to the Department of Finance, before moving to Irish Water.

Department of Environment officials said that was not the case, with one saying Ms Murphy had “her wires crossed”.

However, the Dublin TD said the legislation allowed for it, at the behest of the sitting minister.

Meanwhile, Irish Water plans to begin installing water meters in Cork City from July 6.

The utility confirmed that contractors John Murphy & Sons, who are installing meters in the Cork and Kerry region, are scheduled to move into the city’s south western suburbs from next Monday week.

A spokesman declined to be more specific and said the exact housing estates will be identified closer to the date.

Irish Water says some 200,000 meters have been installed across Cork and Kerry since the metering programme began.

Installation work in Kerry is almost complete, and the bulk of meter installation is completed in Co Cork.

However, several hundred meters have yet to be installed in a handful of housing estates in Togher, Carrigaline, and Cobh where protesters mounted blockades.