Sinn Fein Warn On Water Meters

Sinn Féin spokesperson on theenvironment, community andlocal government, Brian StanleyTD, has said that the Irishgovernment’s plans to installwater meters will become“another political disaster”. Responding to reports that onethird of households are unable tobe installed with water meters,Deputy Stanley said: “This hassunk the argument that watermetering and water charges isabout conservation. It has nothingto with conservation andeverything to do with chargingpeople for water they already payfor through their taxes.” “The government has beenspinning yarns about watercharges. They are sayingmetering leads to lessconsumption and that we are theonly citizens in the OECD who donot pay water charges. “Of course neither is true. Waterconsumption in England is higherthan in Dublin. This is despiteEngland having had water metersfor 25 years. Water charges in thenorth of Ireland have beensuccessfully resisted by Sinn Féindespite demands fromWestminster to impose them.Minister Hogan must bechallenged on these myths.“ “Sinn Féin fully understands theneed to conserve water. In oursubmission to the Dáil’senvironment committee weoutlined steps that would achievewater conservation. Theintroduction of dual flushing wouldreduce consumption by 20 litres aday per household, whileupgrading our aging water systemwould reduce leaks from 40% to20%. “The government must withdrawthese flawed plans to imposewater meters and water chargesbefore another political disasterunfolds. People will not toleratewater charges.”