With the future of Irish Water now pivotal in negotiations surrounding the formation of a Government, the plight of people on group water schemes and private wells has been highlighted.
Roscommon-Galway Independent TD, Michael Fitzmaurice who is being courted by both Fianna Fail and Fine Gael in their attempts to form a Government said the issue of water will be key for him.
“Fianna Fail’s proposal to scrap water charges will have to include the hundreds of thousands of people who are currently paying for water in group water schemes around the country,” Fitzmaurice said.
In their plans to scrap water charges, he said he hopes 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,” he said.
Fitzmaurice said in any negotiations with Micheal Martin he will be asking him if he is 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 said.