Tag Archives: water charges

Irish Water has confirmed that 61% of customers are now paying water charges at the end of the third billing cycle compared to 55% at the end of the second cycle and 44% at the end of the first billing cycle. 928,000 customers have now paid part or all of their bills, an increase of 98,000 customers who began paying charges for the first time in the past three months. Total revenue from charges paid to date by domestic customers is €110.8m. Revenue received during the third billing cycle was €42.3m,an increase from €38m in the second billing cycle and €30.5m in the first billing cycle. Overall payment levels from bill cycle three therefore show both an increasing number of customers now paying water charges, and increased revenue received to help fund the repair and improvement of water services in Ireland. “Irish Water plans to spend €522m in starting to address the major deficits in Ireland’s drinking water and wastewater …

The proposed creation of another new database for the “ flawed water conservation grant” has been described by Clare Fianna Fáil TD Timmy Dooley “as another chapter in the never ending mess that is Irish Water.” Data released under Freedom of Information has revealed that Department of the Environment has suggested the Local Government Management Agency could establish a new database of Irish Water customers and non-customers to be used by the Department of Social Protection to administer the grant from next year. The Department of Social Protection is now writing to households telling them they can now apply for the grant. Deputy Dooley said, “This whole scheme is fundamentally flawed and will do nothing to increase water conservation at all. This is all a direct result of the disastrous establishment of Irish Water and the rush to bring in water charges and install water meters. This Government have actually managed to introduce a new charge that will cost them …

The We Won’t Pay Water Charges – Shannon Campaign has hit out at what they call ‘bully boy tactics’ being employed by the Government to scare vulnerable people into paying water charges. They say it’s no coincidence that proposed legislation in relation to debt collection is being highlighted, to coincide with the arrival of water bills. They claim that these empty threats have in fact infuriated people previously undecided into not paying their water bills. Seónaidh Ní Shíomóin, a member of the Anti-Austerity Alliance and We Won’t Pay – Shannon said, “This debt collection legislation relates to fines, not the water charges themselves. No fines or attachment orders come into effect until after the general election. This means that people can safely continue to boycott the water bills, as there are no fines or penalties until after the fourth bill in 2016.” Mary Lehane, a WWP – Shannon activist says that in the face of a general election, and a …

IRISH Water has denied that Clare County Council will have to pay the water charges of tenants who fail to pay. The CEO of Clare County Council, Tom Coughlan told a meeting of the council that he understood that the council will have to pay Irish Water, if tenants don’t pay their quarterly water charges, the first of which have been dropping through letterboxes in recent days. But Irish Water said this Wednesday that this is not the case and under law, “the occupier of the house is liable for the bill.” “That also applies to private landlords, and once a landlord provides us with the details of the tenant then we will follow up any case on non-payment with the tenant,” a spokesperson for Irish Water told The Clare Champion. Clare County Council CEO, Tom Coughlan was responding to a series of questions put by Councillor Gerry Flynn after the council gave the names and addresses of tenants to …

Protesters from all over the Mid-West are expected to attend a major march against water charges in Limerick this Saturday, assembling at the City Hall at 2pm. The protest will be addressed by Deputy Paul Murphy and will hear a new song from Urban Dreamers, the Limerick band from Bressie’s Teenage Kicks TV show. It has also received support from Rubberbanditts who retweeted the protest details today.​ With the first Irish Water bills arriving in Limerick this morning, the We Won’t Pay campaign have called for people to join their ‘Bin the Bills’ protest on Saturday, Councillor Cian Prendiville says they want a big turn out to “show the Government that we will not be bullied, and boost the confidence of those unsure whether to boycott or not”. Around 39,000 water bills were delivered across the country this morning, with more due in the weeks ahead.

ENDA Kenny is to face protests when he comes to Clare on Monday, with the revised water charges still the subject of much public anger. Gardaí met earlier this week to make plans for Monday, when the Taoiseach is set to visit TTM Healthcare at Ballymaley, speak at the Shannon Chamber president’s lunch in Dromoland and open Genworth’s new business centre in Shannon. There is speculation that jobs will be announced at TTM Healthcare and while there were reports that new jobs would also be announced at Genworth, a company spokesman told The Clare Champion this is not the case. It is understood that another Shannon company, which is due to take on new staff in 2015, are also hopeful that the Taoiseach will visit them. At a so-called street meeting in Shannon on Tuesday night, representatives of the We Won’t Pay anti-water charges campaign said they have plans to protest when the Taoiseach is in Clare. They also said …

A MAN is currently in custody at Ennis Garda Station following an alleged incident in Clarecastle this morning, during which it is claimed another man was threatened with a firearm. The man who was allegedly threatened is understood to have been working on the installation of a water meter. A Garda statement this afternoon said that a 59-year-old man had been arrested in relation to a firearms incident, which happened at around 9.20am. He is being held under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act. The incident is said to have occurred at Quay Road and it is understood that a firearm, which is now being technically examined,  was recovered during a subsequent search of the area.   Owen Ryan

CLARE County Council has voted in favour of a motion calling for the suspension of water charges “until an honest debate on the role and future of Irish Water is held in Dáil Éireann”. They also supported a further motion on water charges that would see their introduction suspended “until a proper fair and equitable system” is put in place and Irish Water’s capacity to deliver water services to homes and businesses is reviewed. The council also backed a call for Government to reverse the imposition of water charges and instead use any resources available to repair leaking pipework and return the management of water and wastewater services to local authorities. They did, however, reject a motion from the Fine Gael group recognising the legal obligation for water charges arising from EU legislation and the bailout agreement, and calling on Irish Water to attend the full council to explain its structure, functions and charging system. Councillor Clare Colleran Molloy moved …