Equality for water charges
Sinn Féin Ard Chomhairle member and Monaghan county
councillor Caoimhghín O Caoiláin wrote yesterday to Dublin
Government Environment Minister Brendan Howlin demanding
equality of treatment for households throughout the 26
counties using water from private supply schemes.
Councillor O Caoilain told An Phoblacht that he was writing
to the Minister to protest at the inequities of his
provisions for removing charges for domestic water supply.
He pointed out that many households currently get their
water from private schemes where they pay for a quality of
water supply that their local authority just cannot
guarantee.
Mr Howlin wants to bring these schemes under local authority
control ignoring the voluntary efforts of the communities
that run these private schemes. Councillor O Caolain has
called for £90 per annum subsidy per domestic household paid
directly by the Department of the Environment to the
trustees of each water scheme.