Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

That is why the priority of the Government has been to focus on middle and lower income earners, from €70,000 down, and why the rate of tax was changed.

The band has been changed and we have taken another 80,000 people from the universal social charge, USC, net completely. That means that 410,000 people do not have to pay the USC. Two rates of USC have been reduced to help lower paid workers. In addition, there is the household benefits package, while those with a tax liability can claim a tax credit. That is the start of a three year programme in respect of income tax in order that people can be rewarded for the work they do and an extra burden can be relieved, which means that they can spend more in their own communities.

I understand the challenge any introduced charge brings for many. We have tried to make this as affordable, fair and equitable as possible in the interests of providing proper facilities and high quality water for the entire country. It is different in many places in rural Ireland, where people may have paid for water for years because of the necessity to engage in pipework and so on, instead of having to bore wells on bad land, for example. Therefore, it is an issue. We have tried to make it fair, affordable and equitable, as we need to invest in and fix infrastructure and repair treatment works. In this city we do not want to lose 40% of water through leaks and cannot go on like that. The changes are being made to contribute to the system and they are to be fair and affordable. We will help people in the introduction of changes where they apply.

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