Irish Water silence on cancelled water payments

Irish Water has refused to provide figures on how many people have cancelled their direct debits with the firm since the Eurostat figures were revealed in July.

The utility declined to confirm any figures on the grounds that other firms such as the ESB would not be asked to do so, as it separately emerged that July’s Eurostat decision to keep Irish Water on the Exchequer books initially noted that “privatisation is ultimately envisaged”.

In a statement to the Irish Examiner amid recent claims by anti-water charge campaigners that thousands of people who paid their first bills are cancelling their direct debits due to the low levels of payment nationwide, an Irish Water spokeswoman said no figures will be made public.