John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am glad to have the opportunity to debate and contribute to this motion on water charges and the implementation of a model of funding for water charges agreed between the Fianna Fáil-Green Party Government and the troika way back in 2010. I very much welcome the clarity the Minister has brought to the subject. Coming from a constituency in rural Ireland, I am frequently asked about group water schemes and people who are not on the public water supply. It has been clarified that such people will not pay water charges. In some respects, water charges were implemented many years ago in rural Ireland with these group water schemes, but it is important that this clarification was given tonight.

I very much welcome the announcement by the Government earlier today relating to the average charge, which is far less than the figure of €400 per annum suggested by the previous Government. I understand it was also suggested previously that there would be no allowances. It is a pity that any charges must be implemented, but given the financial situation the country has found itself in, we will be like all other countries in Europe that have water charges.

I also welcome the fact that there will be free water allowances for children and that vulnerable groups with medical conditions, people living alone or those with lower incomes were taken into account in the announcements today. That is very important. I have been listening for the past month or two to people saying there would be no announcements until after the local and European elections. I welcome the fact that there is now clarity on the matter. There should also be clarity on an ongoing basis between now and the end of the year because in many respects it is only when people go to write a cheque or pay some charge that they focus on how these charges are to be paid, and many questions come up at that stage. We have seen this with the household charge and the property tax, so it is important that there be a continuous system of information setting out clear amounts and ways to pay.

The additional €200 million that will be invested over the next two years is the least that is needed to fix leaks and improve the standard of water. I note that the Sinn Féin motion calls for water rates to be basically scrapped. I would not have a major problem with that if there was a property charge akin to that paid in the Six Counties.

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