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17 October 2014

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Tánaiste turns under pressure from Mary Lou on water charges eviction threats


THE belated decision of Tánaiste and Labour Party leader Joan Burton (under pressure from Sinn Féin) to investigate threatening letters to Rental Accommodation Scheme tenants from Wicklow County Council threatening eviction if they resist water charges has been welcomed by Sinn Féin deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald TD.

Deputy McDonald raised the matter with the Tánaiste in a heated exchange in the Dáil on Thursday (see video).

“I asked her to guarantee that no more of these letters would be sent out.

“Joan Burton tried to pass the buck. She failed to offer any assurances to RAS tenants, who cannot pay water charges, that they will not be faced with eviction.

“I think it is deplorable that such bully-boy tactics are being used to intimidate hard-pressed families, many of whom simply do not have the money to pay.

“The Tánaiste must now assume responsibility and take action to ensure that such an approach is brought to end.”

Mary Lou said that the Tánaiste must also address concerns that recipients of rent allowance and those in private rented accommodation could face similar threats of eviction due to any inability to pay water charges.

◼︎ Sinn Féin councillors on the Dublin City Council Housing Strategic Policy Committee have raised the issue of the effect of the non-payment of water charges for Rental Authority Scheme (RAS) tenants under Dublin City Council.

Speaking after today’s committee meeting, Councillor Críona Ní Dhálaigh, Chair of the Strategic Policy Committee on Housing, said that RAS is supposed to offer citizens a secure tenancy and the uncertainty over the effect of the non- payment of water charges makes tenants feel uneasy.

“We have asked the City Manager to clarify the position of tenants under such agreements and he has agreed to get back to us,” the Sinn Féin councilor said.

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