Top Issue 1-2024

6 July 2016

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New Sinn Féin Infrastructure Minister orders halt to installation of water meters


THE Sinn Féin Infrastructure Minister in the Northern Assembly, Chris Hazzard, has instructed water authorities in the North to stop installing water meters at domestic properties.

Chris Hazzard, who recently took up the Infrastructure portfolio, is bringing forward legislation to end the practice of installing the water meters in new-build properties but it cannot be enacted until the Assembly meets again after the summer recess.

He has now written to NI Water, asking for the installation of meters to be paused until the regulations are in place.

“Today I have instructed NI Water not to install any more water meters at domestic properties in the North,” he said.

“In the current financial climate, the continued waste of public money to install meters which will not be used cannot continue.

“Regulations are currently being drafted and consultation on these is legally required. ‎Meanwhile, I have instructed NI Water to cease this work immediately,” he added.

He said he will also now begin a consultation on the regulations which will brought to the Assembly in the autumn.

Current legislation requires that the controversial water meters are installed on all new-build houses in the North but they are not used for billing purposes.

Sinn Féin MLA Conor Murphy, when serving as Regional Development Minister, challenged the British government and blocked the introduction of water charges in the North.

He also tried to bring forward legislation to stop the introduction of water meters in new-builds but the move was blocked by unionists on the Executive.

In the mandate of the last Assembly, Ulster Unionist Party Regional Development Minister Danny Kennedy introduced legislation to end the installation of water meters but his party walked out of the Executive before the legislation could come into force.

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