Water charge plan raises key questions

FOLLOWING on from the announcement by Minister Phil Hogan in relation to water charges, I just wish to query a number of points in relation to the scheme and to ask if the Department of Education has given any consideration to them.

In principle, I have no difficulty with the introduction of a water charge scheme for publicly supplied water. Twelve months ago I returned after spending 30 months working as a volunteer in central Uganda and I have seen just how lucky we have it in Ireland with easy convenient access to clean safe water. For 30 months I would live day to day, never knowing my water supply was going to be working or whether I would have to get my jerry cans and draw water from a local well. Upon wishing to use any water I would have to ensure that it had been boiled and properly filtered.

I also recognise that there has been a serious under-resourcing of the water infrastructure in the country and in light of the winter we had last year, serious investment needs to be made which has to be funded and such water charges are also required under the IMF programme.