Q&A: Where next for water refunds, meters, and charges?

Political Correspondent Juno McEnroe asks what happens next with the water charges.

What is the sticking point delaying final agreement on the future funding of water services?

The crux of a dispute between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil is whether an ‘excess’ charge should remain for using water. Given the Government accepts that households should be given a free allowance for normal levels of water usage, the question is, Do you get charged if your quota exceeds this? Only in recent days have signs of a compromise emerged at the Oireachtas water committee. Fine Gael insists that to comply with EU laws, Ireland must have such a charge to penalise water wastage. Fianna Fáil says 2007 legislation, which includes fines and jail time, could be beefed up and used to discourage excess use. This latter option is being examined now.