Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Anti-Austerity Alliance) | Oireachtas source

The Minister spoke about the number of meters that have been installed. The Irish Water target is for somewhere between 1 million and 1.1 million. Irish Water has said that approximately 850,000 have been installed so far. The bulk of the areas where the meters have yet to be installed are the working class communities where people have organised to resist their installation, areas such as Tallaght, the north east of Dublin and in Cork city areas such as Churchfield, Gurranabraher, Knocknaheeny and Ballyphehane whose communities have successfully kept the Irish Water meter installers out. Does the Minister seriously believe that he can calm things down on the issue of water charges and try to send the water metering crews into these areas over the next few weeks and months? I suggest he is sadly mistaken if he thinks he will be able to do that.

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