€7bn estimate for shutting down Irish Water 'absolute nonsense'
A €7bn estimate to abolish Irish Water has been rubbished by the Right2Water movement.
The State-owned utility produced the figure amid speculation that the new Government may abandon water charges.
Cash costs alone would reportedly involve pay offs for staff who would not be transferred to local authorities.
But protesters claim that estimates include projected earnings and does not accurately reflect the savings to be made.
David Gibney from Right2Water said the €7bn price tag is totally inaccurate.
“That is absolute nonsense,” he said.
“They’re factoring in €1.6bn that is to be collected between now and 2021.
“But the real numbers, the real fact about this is that it would cost €350 to provide water to every household in the country through general taxation.
“By installing water meters we double that cost immediately.
“Over the next five years, we’re going to be wasting €2.6bn in just looking after those water meters.”
