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Tag Archives: Irish Water

Councillors insist on public meeting with Irish Water

CLARE County Council members have rejected the offer of meeting with Irish Water officials on a one-to-one basis. Instead, after protracted debate this week, councillors insisted that they would meet, as a group, with Irish Water at 10am next Monday in the council chamber, with the public and media present. From 11am, councillors would have the opportunity to meet privately with Irish Water if they want to. It was also suggested that the various municipal districts could meet with Irish Water to discuss capital projects in their respective areas. Monday’s adjourned county council meeting had heard that the proposed “clinic” with Irish Water would consist of six and a half minute, one-to-one meetings between each of the 28 councillors and the Irish Water delegation. However, on Monday, Councillor Cathal Crowe said if the councillors were denied the opportunity to meet in public and as a group with Irish Water, they should not meet them at all. On Wednesday, Councillor Gerry …

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Irish Water says charging ‘clear and simple’

The new water charging system is clear, simple and provides certainty for people, according to Irish Water. The service provider has welcomed the clarity given to the public on water charges and encourages homeowners to register before the deadline of February 2. The charges that people are being asked to pay are as follows: • the maximum charge for a single adult home is €160 • the maximum charge for a multi adult home is €260 • a €100 water conservation grant is available for every primary residence. Charging for water will begin on January 1 and the first bill will arrive next April. Elizabeth Arnett, head of communications and corporate services at Irish Water said, “We welcome the clarity that the Government has given on water charges. People now know what they are being asked to pay and that it’s possible to pay less and beat the cap by using conservation methods. A water conservation grant of €100 per …

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Kinvara sewage plant ‘almost there’

THE long-awaited sewage treatment plant planned for Kinvara is a step closer to becoming a reality after Irish Water confirmed in the past week that it has begun the tendering process for it and also a new sewage pipe network to serve the town. For decades, locals and public representatives have campaigned for a sewage treatment plant for the village. On hearing the news, Fine Gael Deputy Ciarán Cannon said, “We’re almost there and I’m delighted to have received this news from Irish Water. The tendering process for both the new plant and new network has finally begun and Irish Water will be seeking tenders from a preferred panel of contractors, who have already been through a serious process of scrutiny to determine that they are capable of delivering on such a contract. “The people of Kinvara have been very patient while witnessing raw sewage pouring into their beautiful bay on a regular basis. I know that at times they …

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Taoiseach to face protests on Clare visit

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 …

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Support for motion to suspend water charges

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 …

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Anti-water charges protestors to demonstrate outside council buildings

Members of Clare Says No To Water Charges will demonstrate with placards outside Clare County Council headquarters before councillors’ monthly meeting next Monday. This is in addition to daily protests outside Irish Water’s offices in Ennis by those who are vehemently opposed to paying the controversial water charges, which are due to be sent out to homes next January. Boosted by the doubling of the attendance at the second county demonstration in Ennis on Saturday, Clare Says No To Water Charges has vowed to step up its campaign with a series of public meetings in Bodyke, Scariff and Miltown Malbay over the coming weeks. Preparations are also being made to organise buses from Ennis to transport protesters to demonstrations in Dublin on December 6 and 10. The group has reiterated its determination to continue organising demonstrations until water charges are abolished, despite the public apology from Irish Water chief executive, John Tierney, for mistakes made in the establishment of the …

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Labour back Seanad motion on Irish Water

The Seanad has today (Wednesday) passed a motion, which received Labour Party support, proposing a referendum on the future ownership of Irish Water. Green Party leader, Eamon Ryan welcomed Labour’s Seanad stance on the issue. “The Green Party put this issue on the national agenda, and we welcome the growing coalition in support of the proposal,” he said. Mr Ryan said the Taoiseach should now reconsider the approach he articulated yesterday opposing such a referendum. “It is clear from the vote in the Seanad today that his Labour partners are taking a different position. The Government should now consider the referendum issue within the context of the new proposals around Irish water that they intend presenting in two weeks time. “This gives the Government time to consider the best wording and timeline for a referendum. We would be happy to share the wording we have proposed, along with the legal advice we have availed of, in proposing this idea,” Mr Ryan …

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Government slated on ‘Irish Water shambles’

The Government cannot continue to ignore the voice of the people over the Irish Water shambles, Deputy Timmy Dooley has warned. The Fianna Fáil TD said the Government’s disastrous handling of the set-up of Irish Water has caused considerable public anger. “At the weekend, I along with thousands of people from communities in every part of Clare, marched against the Government’s strategy and delivery on Irish Water. Fianna Fáil has been against the way Irish Water was set-up from the very beginning and the complete lack of debate on its establishment was a disgrace. This, together with the bonus-culture and over €50 million being spend on consultants, led to the huge numbers we saw in Clare protesting over the weekend. “The protests included people against water charges of any sort, but also a sizeable section of people disgusted with how the Government has handled the issue. The complete lack of fairness by not including an ability to pay clause, utter confusion …

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