Govt 'not availing of water charges exemption from EU'

MEP for Munster Kathy Sinnott has demanded the Government explain why it is not availing of an exemption from water charges in the Water Framework Directive from the EU, and is instead charging schools, hospitals and farms for water use.

Article 9 (4) of the Water Framework Directive provides for an exemption from the EU requirement to recover the full cost of water treatment. This exemption is attainable at the discretion of the Minister for Environment, John Gormley.

Ms Sinnott says: "There is an easily attainable exemption available to the government on water charges written into the Water Framework Directive.

"Brussels has expressed surprise that Ireland did not take it up. In fact they tell me that it was known as the 'Irish Exemption' within the Commission because of its obvious application for Ireland.

"I call on the Government to explain why they have added yet another stealth tax, and blamed it on the EU?

"Why have farmers, hospitals, disability centres and schools been encumbered with this unnecessary burden? Is the Government so out of touch as to think they can easily bear the strain of yet more financial hardship?

"I demand an explanation as to why this exemption wasn’t taken up and why the EU is being used as a scapegoat by this Government when it was their decision to bring in these stealth taxes?

"It is time for our Government to support our farming and rural communities and to not make it any more difficult for our schools and hospitals. I have written to Minister Gormley today and I call on him to immediately use his discretion under the WFD to use the old system of supplying water at minimal or no charge to deserving sectors. The exemption is in the Directive to be used!"

Under the terms of the Water Framework Directive, the Minister for Environment is entitled to ask for an exemption from the "principle of cost recovery" on which the proposed new regimes for water charging by County Councils are based.

To put it simply, if there are sufficiently damaging "social, environmental or economic effects" to recouping the cost of water recovery (Article 9 (2) in certain sectors then government can decide to continue an already established water-supply cost system and inform the European Commission of its reasons for doing so.

Conditions are that the established practice is used and that the objectives of the WFD are not compromised. The objectives of the WFD are the maintenance of clean, sufficient water supplies and a raising of public awareness and practice of water conservation.

"Given that Ireland is blessed with an abundance of water, it is perfectly reasonable for Minister Gormley to apply this exemption to social services like schools, disability centres and hospitals and to an otherwise threatened food-producing sector that we all rely on.

"Is it possible our Department of Environment sees the WFD as an opportunity to make money? If so in taking it from cash-strapped schools, hospitals and care homes, they are adding an unacceptable burden. By squeezing more money out of farmers, they may find that they are killing the goose that laid the golden egg," said Ms Sinnott.