Water Tax Bill is grossly unfair - O' Súilleabháin

The Water Services Bill published by the government last week is grossly unfair and represents another austerity attack on ordinary families according to a spokesperson for North Wexford Sinn Féin.  Fionntán O' Súilleabháin said that the introduction of water meters would be costly and totally ineffective in dealing with water wastage in this state.

Mr O' Súilleabháin said;

"The Water Services Bill published by the government last week reveals their intention to introduce water charges from the first of January 2013.  The Bill establishes Irish Water as a subsidiary of Bord Gáis, giving the new company incredible powers to install water meters on your property, tax your water usage and obtain data on you from public bodies such as the Department of Social Protection, Revenue and local authorities."

"The introduction of water charges will be totally ineffective in dealing with water wastage in this state.  Government officials have claimed that a water tax may reduce water consumption by up to 16%.  While this might be the case it will do nothing to deal with the estimated 58% of treated water across
the country that is wasted through broken pipes before it even reaches the household."

"Clearly this bill is not about water conservation.  What it is about is imposing another tax on cash strapped families who have already been bled dry.  It’s estimated that we produce 450 litres per adult per day. This means that double the amount of water used by our average Irish adult is disappearing through leaking pipes before it ever gets near a soon to be water taxed home!"

"The introduction of water charges is grossly unfair and represents another austerity attack on the most vulnerable families in this state.  Sinn Féin will continue its long running campaign against the introduction of this tax, a campaign that was initiated while Fianna Fail were in power and planning to introduce their own water tax."