LIMERICK householders who are unable to drink their tap water will still be hit with bills from Irish water averaging at €140.
The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) confirmed this Tuesday that householders from Ballynanty and Kileely and other areas in Limerick who can’t drink water supplied by Irish Water are still to be hit with the €140 charge
Fianna Fail TD, Willie O’Dea, deemed the decision to hit householders from Limerick with €140 bills for an undrinkable water supply as “disgraceful”.
The Limerick TD also hit out at Environment Minister Alan Kelly, who he claims has been highly conspicuous in his absence from any discussion about his new quango. Deputy O’Dea insists that Minister Kelly needs to explain why he thinks it is fair to ask customers pay for expensive consultants, outline why free allowances have been slashed and acknowledge his failure to put in place a fair scheme for people who cannot even drink the water they are provided with.
“Families such as those in Ballynanty and Killeely and other parts of Limerick have been told not to drink from the public water supply, not to use it for diluting drinks or to cook with. Yet, despite the failure of Irish Water to provide the most basic service of drinkable water, this new quango is being facilitated in hitting these householders with an average bill of €140 per year,” fumed Deputy O’Dea.
The Energy Regulator has also confirmed that the public will also pick up the tab for Irish Water’s consultancy bill in the water charges that began this week. O’Dea believes that the decision for the public to foot the bill directly through their water charges will cause further frustration.
