Culchies to pay for Dublin water?

PLANS to introduce a new centralised water authority will mean rural people will pay for a cost-effective water supply for Dublin, according to a local public representative.
At the council meeting, Fianna Fáil’s PJ Kelly questioned the reason behind the proposed setting up of a national water authority.
“What is on the agenda with Irish Water? Reading between the lines, ‘how do we provide a cost-effective water supply in Dublin?’ that is the question in the quiet room. The answer is that the culchies will pay for it,” he claimed.
“Will we be compensated?” he asked Deputy Dooley and Senator Conway. “We want to be compensated. This will address the problem in Dublin but not in rural Ireland.”
Tubber councillor Michael Kelly said the establishment of a nationwide water authority would represent “an erosion of the power of the local authority”. He also questioned what it would mean if the proposal to take water from the Shannon to the Greater Dublin area arose.
“Who will control the decision about taking water from the Shannon to Dublin? Will it be Irish Water and will it cut the local authority out of it?” the Fianna Fáil man asked.
Party colleague and West Clare councillor Pat Keane echoed Councillor Kelly’s views warning there are going to “be huge issues”.
“We are setting up a quango and taking the power away from the council,” he claimed.
Councillor PJ Ryan expressed serious concerns about the formation of the authority, saying it is “a rushed decision” and accused the “IMF and other bodies” of pushing Ireland into “a very serious situation”.
Councillor Ryan was also vocal on the subject of transferring ownership of council assets to a centralised authority.
“It looks like Clare County Council will have to hand over equipment paid for by local rate payers and this is going to be handed over free gratis,” he claimed.
Councillor Joe Cooney from East Clare criticised a lack of information on the proposed body, saying “a lot of clarification is needed”.
Independent Councillor Christy Curtin noted there are “no statutory rights envisaged for the customer” and that consumers have “no right of appeal to the price”.
“We should not be complicit in this thing that we do not think is good for the people,” Councillor Curtin concluded.
A number of councillors credited the water staff in the council for their performance to date, particularly in freezing winter of 2009/2010.
While Fine Gael Councillor Joe Arkins said he is keen to see water staff in the council retained, he noted, “a water body that operated like the National Roads Authority with shared responsibility with the council might work”.
“What is important is that the customer gets what they need and that if someone needs help they get it,” he added.