Plans to impose standing charges on water customers ‘must be scrapped’

Plans to impose standing charges on Irish Water customers must be scrapped, according to senior Labour Party sources who intensified their criticism of Environment Minister Phil Hogan’s handling of the issue.

As unease between the Coalition parties continues, the source said water charges were a “critical issue” for Labour.

He added that by Mr Hogan’s own admission, “he was not aware of the details of the €87m spent by Irish Water on consultancies, we are fearful he’s not on top of this at all”.