Roscommon Galway TD Michael Fitzmaurice says that Fianna Fail’s proposal to scrap water charges will have to include people who are currently paying for water in group water schemes around the country”
Speaking yesterday the Independent TD said “In their plans to scrap water charges, I hope that Micheal Martin and Fianna Fail have taken into account all the people who are on group water schemes if they want to abolish water charges. There are 190,000 connections around the country on group schemes and there are also 170,000 private wells. The subsidy for these consumers was cut by the previous Government from €140 to €100 and in real terms if we are going to treat people in Group Schemes the same as everyone else then that subsidy will have to rise to €200. The question I will ask Micheal Martin when I am talking to him will be is he willing to grant this to people on group schemes? “I will also be asking him what provision will be made for the people who have installed 170,000 private wells around the country. These are two vital questions that I will be raising with Micheal Martin with regard to Irish Water and the abolition of water charges in any negotiations that may take place over the coming days” he concluded.