Coalition denies €100 grant rowback

Senior Government figures have insisted there are no plans to block people who fail to pay their Irish Water bills from receiving the €100 “water conservation” grant after backbench TDs strongly hinted at the move.

Tánaiste Joan Burton, Environment Minister Alan Kelly, Transport Minister Paschal Donohue, and spokespeople for both of the Coalition parties shot down the suggestion yesterday, saying there are no plans to bring proposals to change the current system to Cabinet.

Despite the denials, opposition parties criticised the Government for the latest Irish Water row, claiming it has taken a “backbencher revolt” for the Coalition to re-examine the issue.