Coalition partners Labour and Fine Gael are set to hold talks in the next 48 hours to reach an agreement on water charges for people with disabilities, pensioners and carers. While the parties are divided on the issue it is hoped that an agreement will be reached before Wednesday’s cabinet meeting.
When asked about the possibility of giving support to the Department of Social Protection (DSP) to fund the charge for the most vulnerable sectors of people in our society, Jobs Minister Richard Bruton said: “That will be discussed at Cabinet; these are difficult decisions.”
The Labour Party would like the proposed €50 standing charge to be scrapped. In the event of the charge remaining, Labour wants special provisions to be made for ‘vulnerable groups’ which would reduce their annual water bill. Fine Gael ministers are likely to resist this proposal as the transfer of money to Joan Burton’s DSP would reduce an expected boost of €500m to the exchequer as a result of water charges.
One possibility for subsidising the charge is to add a small sum to the Household Benefits Package, worth €35 per month per household, to cover electricity or gas bills. Another option which will be explored at the meeting is that of building it into the exceptional needs payment given to less well-off families for one-off costs.
Independent TD Catherine Murphy has spoken out against the injustice of expecting people who are already "at breaking point" to pay the new charge when "gigantic sums" are being paid out in consultant fees and staff bonuses at Irish Water.
We will provide an update when we know more.
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