27 May 2010 Edition
Water, water everywhere - but you'll be taxed to drink it
Dublin Environment Minister John Gormley has been urged to abandon plans to punish families by introducing a charge for household water usage after it was revealed on Wedneday that Councils throughout the State have failed to collect charges from a majority of businesses. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh said the Minister should concentrate on preserving water by fixing all the leaks in water pipes throughout the State.
“If the Minister was serious about preserving water then he would be acting to fix the leaks in the water pipes throughout the State which are currently wasting anywhere between 16% and 58% of our water supply,” he said. “The reality is that the Minister’s proposal is not about preserving water but more about the Government putting its hand into the pockets of its citizens once again.
Ó Snodaigh said that if councils around the state are not collecting rates from businesses for water, it begged the question, why ordinary working families should be forced to pay for a basic service.
The tax on water, along with a property tax on homes, is being mooted by economists as being a money spinner for the Fianna Fáil/Green government. It’s yet to be seen whether they will try to also introduce a property tax in Budget 2011.
“If the Minister was serious about preserving water then he would be acting to fix the leaks in the water pipes throughout the State which are currently wasting anywhere between 16% and 58% of our water supply,” he said. “The reality is that the Minister’s proposal is not about preserving water but more about the Government putting its hand into the pockets of its citizens once again.
Ó Snodaigh said that if councils around the state are not collecting rates from businesses for water, it begged the question, why ordinary working families should be forced to pay for a basic service.
The tax on water, along with a property tax on homes, is being mooted by economists as being a money spinner for the Fianna Fáil/Green government. It’s yet to be seen whether they will try to also introduce a property tax in Budget 2011.