Water tax aid won’t help all jobless

Some of the country’s most vulnerable households will miss out on help with their water charges despite a range of payment concessions announced which include tax breaks for the wealthiest earners.

In a move that will cost €42m, the well-flagged €100 addition to the Household Benefits Package, paid as €25 every three months, will benefit 415,000 householders, including the over-70s and low-income pensioners.

In an additional support costing €24m, €100 per year is to be paid to all Fuel Allowance recipients in a move that will help 238,000 households reliant on payments such as the Long-term Jobseekers Allowance and the One-Parent Family Payment.