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HOUSEHOLDS WILL NO longer receive Irish Water bills from this month, as the suspension of water charges takes tangible effect.
The charges have been suspended for the rest of the year while an expert commission deliberates how we fund our water system in the years to come.
Yet there are a host of imponderables, given that a large tranche of the population paid their bills, while others didn’t.
So no more bills - that’s great news isn’t it?
It’s a bit more complicated than that. Households who haven’t paid their existing bills remain liable for usage up to the end of March, according to the Government and Irish Water.
And charges are only suspended until the end of this year, so the utility could begin to start firing out the bills again before six months are out.
I’ve paid my Irish Water bills – does that mean I’m going to be effectively penalised for obeying the law?
Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil maintain that non-payers and payers are to be treated equally. It effectively means that either people who paid will get their money back, or everyone who decided not to pay the bills will be pursued for payment.
Irish Water say “outstanding bills issued should be paid in full”, and helpfully say they will continue to accept payments through a whole host of means.
Direct debit customers who haven’t cancelled will no longer have payments deducted.
Can the Government make me pay my outstanding water charges?
As it stands, Irish Water’s strategy appears to be little other than sending pleading letters, text messages and occasional phone calls to recalcitrant water consumers.
A legal debt remains payable, but short of sending debt collectors to the doors of 500,000 people or instituting legal proceedings, it’s unclear what the Government can do.
What happens to Irish Water?
They might be about as popular as a foreigner at a Ukip convention, but Irish Water haven’t gone away, you know.
Everyone’s favourite semi-state remains in situ as the national water utility, handling water supply issues (and payment).
Are other people still paying their bills?
In May, Irish Water released figures showing a 20% drop in charges paid in the first quarter of 2016, from €42.3million to €33million.
It was viewed as a sign of wilting public willingness to cough up for a charge that was likely to be suspended following the General Election result.
At the end of May, Irish Water sent out the fifth and last batch of bills, covering January to March. They are due to release last figures for ‘Cycle 5′ at the end of this month.
Another large drop in paying figures is expected, with a substantial proportion of the 200,000 direct debit customers expected to have cancelled their mandates.
Overall, how many people paid their bills last year?
Almost two-thirds of liable households (64%, or 975,000 people) paid domestic water charges in 2015.
The total amount collected over the year was €144m which was 53% of the total income due from domestic charges during 2015.
What about the EU, how do they feel about the suspension of charges?
They’re not one bit happy. As confirmed by The Journal at the start of June, the European Commission insists our exemption from charging for water was over. In their words, water charges are “established practice” in Ireland and must remain, under the polluter pays framework.
They say any flexibility accorded to Ireland ended in 2010, when the Fianna Fáil-led coalition, backed by the Greens, agreed to introduce the charges.
Ah sure, Enda will fix some sort of deal, won’t he?
Doubtful. Given Ireland’s unique exposure to Brexit, it’s not really high on the wishlist of Ireland’s EU staff – or Brussels, given the imminent departure of the EU’s second biggest economy.
The Commission is unlikely to allow Ireland to breach the EU Water Framework Directive, and are likely to fine Ireland thousands of euro per day.
Could Late Payment Charges be applied to my account?
A late payment charge applies for usage before 1 April 2016, but Irish Water say “there are no plans” to apply late payment charges for time in the suspension period.
I’m moving house, what do I need to do?
If moving out of a rented property, Irish Water are asking people to ring them for a “closing bill”, for charges up to March 31. If moving into a rented property, Irish Water want you to register.
Under legislation, a property seller needs to provide evidence that the property has no outstanding bills with Irish Water or that the property is not connected to the Irish Water network.
What about the meters, are they still being installed?
Irish Water staff are continuing to read meters in order, they say, to learn information about the leaks and other issues.
They say they are planning to continue to install meters “on a case-by-case basis”. The first phase of household meter installations is due to complete this year.
I have mixed (household and business) water usage at my property, how will this affect me?
Commercial charges are unaffected by the suspension, and will continue to be levied by the relevant local authority, pending transfer to Irish Water’s billing system.
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if he gave his own personal opinion he would be classed as a fool and if he doesnt he’s a coward. regardless hes a damned sight better than wreck it o reilly
Leo Varadker had an opinion he didn’t express? Never thought I’d see the day! (And eagerly await replies relating pots and kettles)
Varadkar would gut any one of you with a blunt butter knife if you were stupid enough to stand between him and the cozy, extremely wealthy retirement he is lining up for himself.
- Do you know what Mary Harney the morally vacuous blimp that used to sit in the Health Ministers chair did today while you were all at work and your kids were all in Creche?
She sat there pressing F5 on her internet banking page watching the numbers increase and laughing at us and our stupidity…..
Well considering he is in his 30′s and legislation reforms mean he can’t access his pension until he is 65, that is a bit of an irrelevant point.
Can’t understand why someone would spend so many years studying to be a doctor, only to go into politics. Seems like a complete waste of money, time and a college place to me.
Indian father. Three choices scientist, doctor or lawyer. Maybe a lecturer. Few other professions are acceptable to Indian middle class parents.
But he doesn’t practice, I don’t think he ever has, so he may as well not be.
He’ll earn more with less effort lying to the voting public than he ever would have as a GP which coincidentally also involves duping the public and earning a ridiculous wage for SFA…
Truth is GPs mainly take in cash for doing nothing – they then just refer you to nearest A&E department if there’s any real worry or uncertainty involved.
“A young man ” he’s 3 years older than me and I wouldn’t think of myself as a young man in any stretch of the imagination .
However, given the average age in the Dáil he’s like Junior Infants.
I’ll assume then you are 32.
Considering most people don’t actually start their careers until their mid to late 20′s, once training and education are finally done, i think people in their 30′s are fairly young all in all (this may be my own grasping at straws – like Varadkar, I am 35)
To quote one of the ladies in Sex & The City “oh to be a young girl of 35 again”
Well done Clare Daly for continuing to stand up to these cowards
Our Leo is going the way of the grey haired politician following the party line and afraid to speak out I case Kenny the teacher gets out his stick and gives him 5 across the open palm and knuckles . That will teach ya says Lenny and Leo says ” sorry sir I won’t do it again” . Wait till I tell your mother says kenny … FFS where is this country going !!!!!!
Coward.
F3ck, I agree with something Clare Daly said!! I need a shower.
Damn autocorrect . COWARD
Him has an opinion and will not state it? This guy is been spoken of as a future “leader” of FG? Some leader he will make.
“as a doctor and as a young man”…. do either qualify Leo in a better way than anyone else in this or any matter…am very surprised at a Socialist like Claire been so elitist
Coeatd
To go near abortion or anything to do with it before a general election would be political suicide. The conservative lines of most parties are being engraved in concrete atm. Its a time to worry for liberal ireland as conservative groups get their spoke in. Francis fitzgerald has all ready been gotten to by the immigrant council.
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