Wexford Sinn Féin to launch campaign against water charges

Wexford Sinn Féin are launching their campaign against the proposed implementation of water charges with a public meeting in the FAB Community Centre in Wexford town next Monday (The 11th July). Cllr Anthony Kelly has said that public meetings will be held across the county in the coming weeks to educate and organise public opposition to the introduction of any tax on water. The Wexford Borough Councillor also said that water charges amount to another unfair tax on the working poor and cannot be justified by any argument.

“The proposed water charge is another attack on the low paid, unemployed and sick people of Ireland who are the ones taking the full brunt of the governments inequitable spread of austerity measures,” Cllr Kelly said. “Quite simply it’s a family stealth tax. This is not about stopping the waste of water. Water is being wasted because we have an antiquated water supply system that successive governments have done nothing to rectify. The largest amount of water lost in our system is lost between the reservoir and the main domestic pipe line. Water charges won’t change this. This is about pacifying our friends in the IMF, who are demanding the implementation of these charges, not about water conservation.”

“The government plans to spend €500 million or more on installing meters. That money could be better spent on improving water distribution and cutting down the amount of water, over 40% of which is lost through leaking pipes. Next Monday, Deputy Aengus O’ Snodaigh will be joining Cllr Johnny Mythen and myself in launching Wexford SF’s campaign against water charges. This will be the first in a series of public meetings across the county aimed at educating and organising resistance to any water charge. I hope the people of Wexford come out to support this.”