It was reported on Wednesday that the government were considering only paying the water grant to people who have actually paid their bill and not just those registered.
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The suggestion was quickly shot down by Environment Minister Alan Kelly, Tánaiste Joan Burton, Transport Minister Paschal Donohue, and others, but the controversy has at the very least given the opposition two fresh areas in which to attack the Government in the final months before a general election.
Grant system The Department of Environment and the Department of Social Protection both officially said there were no immediate plans to change the grant system but senior sources have confirmed this was under active consideration. This is all a direct result of the disastrous establishment of Irish Water and the rush to bring in water charges and install water meters.
Currently, people only have to register their details with Irish Water in order to qualify for the €100 water conservation grant from the Department of Social Protection but don’t have to prove they have paid their bills.
The ruling by the EU statistics agency that the semi-State remain on balance sheet, however, has provided the Coalition with leeway to make changes and has forced them to take a longer-term approach to Irish Water. This year alone it will actually lose €70m on water charges.
Mr Cowen said it was time for real, alternative policies in relation to Irish Water. It’s comical Kelly at his best to be honest with you.
Mr Ellis said that Sinn Féin’s position is that Irish Water should be abolished, and the Government should take the message of all of the water protests on board.
Irish Water will have a “first fix free” scheme to fix customer leaks, but some leakage may be internal to the house, and the Water Conservation Grant has been devised to help fund such repairs. Most deputies felt the remarks were unhelpful and damaging at a time the Coalition is trying to switch public attention away from Irish Water.
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Sinn Féin’s Dessie Ellis has also criticised the reported decision, saying Irish Water has been “one fiasco after another”.
