* ATTEMPTS TO RE-INTRODUCE DOMESTIC WATER TAX WILL BE VIGOROUSLY OPPOSED – WARNS ANTI-WATER TAX CAMPAIGN
* RESIDENTS WILL NOT PAY ON THE DOUBLE FOR GOVERNMENT INACTION
Responding to the announcement by Minister Gormley of his intention to implement water charges and meters as part what he calls a major investment in water infrastructure, campaigners warned that his plans will be met with a mass campaign of civil disobedience, the length and breath of the country, which will make the charge uncollectable.
Investment in water infrastructure has long been inadequate. Government starving of local authority funds are compounding the problem, and now the bill for their inaction is to be borne by hard-pressed residents. This will not be tolerated.
Half of the state’s housing stock has been built since we succeeded in abolishing this tax in the mid-1990s, yet precious little water conservation measures were put in place in terms of rain water harvesting or dual flush toilets. Now they want to introduce meters. This exposes the con, if this was about conservation, they would be investing far more and would be linking it with new building regulations, all meters do is to measure consumption, they don’t alter it. Their only purpose to commodify an essential public service and facilitate a direct charge. Workers and pensioners cannot afford to pay on the double. We all pay through our central taxation.
The investment in infrastruture upgrade announced by the Minister pales into insignificance to the €12 billion to Anglo Irish Bank, and the tens of billions that will be paid by the taxpayer to the other banks and NAMA.
These plans are not about a new charge. They are a new tax. They see a chance of recuperating €1 billion a year from taxpayers to meet the shortfall generated by the hand-outs to bankers and developers. Taking more money out of the pockets of workers and pensioners will only compound the economic situation.
The government is trying to dress up a new tax in environmental clothes. We won’t fall for it.
For more informatioin
Cllr Clare Daly: 087-2415576 (Socialist Party)
Cllr Joan Collins (People Before Profit Alliance): 0863888151
Seamus McDonagh 087-9683814