Fianna Fail: Average water charge estimates are ‘absolutely bogus’

Estimates of average water charges for households are "absolutely bogus" and families will be shocked when bills start arriving through doors, Fianna Fáil has claimed.

The party’s finance spokesman Michael McGrath made the claim last night following claims earlier in the Dáil by Taoiseach, Enda Kenny that the average charge would not exceed €238 for homes.

Instead, many families would be getting bills in the order of €600 and €700 for a year, the Cork South Central TD told the Dáil.

Leaving Certificate students and those at college would be considered for charges, he also explained.

Furthermore, a family of two adults and two grown-up children would have to pay €482, while this would increase to €584 for a third grown-up child in the household, he said.

The energy regulator is set to announce costs for households next week ahead of charges being applied from the beginning of next month. Bills though will not be sent to homes until January.

Claims by the Government that the average bill would be €240 were “absolutely bogus”, Mr McGrath added.

“A lot of people are in for a shock... they are being misled,” he told the Dáil during a debate on water charges last night.

Earlier, Taoiseach Enda Kenny rejected attacks from the opposition over the non-drinkable water supplies in Roscommon.

He said Fianna Fáil had let the households drink contaminated water for 40 years and done nothing.

Independent TD Catherine Murphy raised concerns about Irish Water’s requests for families and households to supply PPS numbers.

Mr Kenny said this was in part to arrange for free allowances for some households and for others who had medical conditions.

The Government yesterday also rejected proposals by Fianna Fáil for a full waiver for households who have to boil dirty water.

Party leader Micheál Martin said it was “incomprehensible” that homeowners had to pay for a “contaminated” product, especially in Roscommon.

While households will be exempt from paying for water supplies where there are boil notices, they will still have to pay for waste water services under the current proposals.

Environment Minister, Alan Kelly said yesterday there were currently 31 restrictions in place on public water supplies, including 20 boil water notices. This affects 26,000 people.

Schemes affected are in Cork, Kerry, Leitrim, Longford, Mayo, Sligo, Waterford and Wexford, while there are four affected in Co Tipperary and eight in Co Roscommon.

Mr Kelly said the regulator was “further considering” the approach to compensating households, where the water supply is not fit for human consumption.