The Government should come clean and tell Clare residents how much of its €30.7m paid over in motor tax last year has been handed over to Irish Water to help cover the costs of its “lavish set-up”.
That’s the challenge laid down by Clare Fianna Fáil TD, Timmy Dooley.
He said,“At a time when people are crying out for real change and more transparency, this Government is raiding the local tax revenues paid over by Clare residents for our roads to prop up Irish Water. This is a failed entity with no public confidence or support. It should not be a further drain on the resources of our people.”
Continuing, Deputy Dooley said, “During last year, drivers in Clare paid out €30,764,199 in motor tax. My colleague Sean Fleming has confirmed through meetings of the Public Accounts Committee that €290m from motor taxation nationally was given as a subvention to Irish Water by the Department of Environment last year. I want to know how much of that money was taken from Clare. Motorists are under the impression their motor tax is being spent on upgrading our roads, not funding a lavish new super quango that has failed to muster any public confidence whatsoever.
“People will be utterly shocked to hear this news. It comes at a time when over €500m is being wasted on water meters, which will not be used for at least 5 years, while another €90m has been spent on consultants’ fees. Despite these extortionate costs, not one extra cent has actually been spent on fixing leaks or pipes so far.”
A native of Ennis, Colin McGann has been editor of The Clare Champion since August 2020. Former editor of The Clare People, he is a journalism and communications graduate of Dublin Institute of Technology.