Water charges put back for one year

Water charges will be introduced a year later than planned in a move that the opposition claims is aimed at avoiding meltdown for Labour in next year’s local and European elections.

Finance Minister Michael Noonan confirmed that the charge, which was due to come into effect in January, will be delayed until late 2014 or early 2015. He was speaking hours after it was left to Labour leader Eamon Gilmore to deliver the news which will give some respite to house owners.

The Tánaiste, under pressure over his party’s disastrous showing in the Meath East byelection, told RTÉ radio during a trade mission to Turkey that the Coalition would not proceed with the charges from Jan 2014 as had been planned.