This article is from page 8 of the 2011-07-12 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 8 JPG
A PUBLIC meeting will be held next week to launch a Clare campaign against the introduction of flat-rate water charges before meters are installed.
The meeting is being organised by the newly formed Shannon Green Party branch. Their chairman Gerben Uunk explained why awareness of the water-charge proposals are important.
“We all remember the drastic icy winter; many citizens were left with burst water pipes in Clare and around the country. The Government relentlessly plans to introduce water charges without proper water metering in place in most Irish homes. Households are to be charged € 175, before water meters are installed,” he told The Clare People .
“Shouldn’t people on disability benefit or reliant upon social welfare be exempt from paying water charges? Householders will be forced to pay this flat-rate charge for their water for at least three years. No matter how much water you use, everyone will pay the same flat fee. That is not equitable,” Mr Uunk said.
On the agenda for the meeting which will be held in the Oakwood Arms Hotel in Shannon on Wednesday, July 20, at 7.30pm – will be the reasons why water charges are being introduced, lessons from the international experience of water charges, why it’s important to conserve drinking water, tips to help reduce the amount of water usage at home, an outline of the Green Party position on water charges and an open floor questions and answers session.
Clare TDs and senators are also being invited to the meeting to express their opinion.