ChRiSTMAS GifT GUiDE
Thursday, November 20, 2014
Beat the cold this season with a winter reboot pAGE 18
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POSTCODES NOT MANDATORY
Wholly Thursday o get fails to the Gone ype Girl hype pAGE 4 pA
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SEvERE SNOWSTORM killS 7 iN US
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New water charges ‘won’t cover costs’
by DAviD kEARNS
THE Government has finally clarified what water charges Irish families will face – but even as the announcement was made yesterday, critics said they will not raise enough revenue to support the system. Homes face further hidden costs on top of a €160 charge to bankroll the controversial Irish Water utility, experts have warned. Taxpayers will have to plug a massive gap between money expected to be raised from the water charges – the cheapest in Europe – and the cost of developing a modern water system, they claim. Sebastian Lennox, of international analysts Global Water Intelligence,
Shortfall will come from public purse said the shortfall will run into hundreds of millions of euro. ‘The true cost of water is not being conveyed to the population,’ he said. ‘Going on the tariffs announced, there’s no way Ireland will be able to cover the costs of operating and maintaining a water system and cover the costs of new infrastructure.’ Describing the new rates as a major back track, Mr Lennox said the shortfall will have to come out of the public purse. Confirming the revised charges, seen as a major U-turn in the face of
• Maximum charge €160 per household • €100 rebate for every household that signs up to irish Water • Billing will apply from January 1, 2015 • Automatic €260 bill for those who fail to register • No PPS number needed
heated demonstrations, Environment Minister Alan Kelly said bills would start arriving next April. The charges, payable from January 1, will remain the same for just four years, before a review. Originally, the Government said the levy would be up to €600 a year for some families. ‘We as a Government have made mistakes but now we face a critical choice,’ Mr Kelly said. ‘Put simply, we now have a choice that is based on either short-term anger or long-term prudence and common sense.’ Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams urged further protests against the charges. ‘The Government hasn’t got the message yet,’ he said. Socialist TD Joe Higgins said the people of Ireland are not fools and they recognised ‘this transparent manoeuvre’ to get the coalition parties through the next general election. He said the campaign to abolish water charges will not let up.’
Sea heroes coast home at awards ceremony An Taisce’s Clean Coasts Ocean Hero Awards recognised two special people, Margaret Browne, who received the Long-term Dedication Award, and Martin Dorey, the founder of #2MinuteBeachClean Picture: Naoise culhaNe
Keep Dublin tidy – Please recycle this Metro Herald when you are finished with it