Group plans to oppose water charges
The Campaign Against Household and Water Taxes (CAHWT) has pledged to oppose the Government's plan to introduce water taxes in 2014.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny confirmed yesterday that homeowners will have to pay for their own meters.
However it is still not clear how much this will cost, with some reports suggesting it could be as much as €300.
Mr Kenny said the Government will not foot the bill for the installation of the meters into every home.
Opposition parties have hit out at the announcement with Fianna Fáil describing it as outrageous.
Fine Gael also appeared at odds with coalition partner Labour over the issue, with Labour leader Eamon Gilmore saying that the Government had not yet taken a position on the issue.
Dublin Socialist Councillor Ruth Coppinger, a member of the CAHWT, described the plan as a farce saying that the most effective way to conserve water would be to employ thousands of people to repair and replace the national pipe network.
Fianna Fáil spokesperson on the environment and natural resources Niall Collins admitted there needs to be a debate around paying for water, but said people won't stand for having to pay for the meters themselves.
"People will not wear that," Deputy Collins said.
"The Government has on its desk a report which details €511m worth of savings to be achieved across our local authorities and we see very little action on that.
"And yet at the same time the Government is pursuing (the introduction of) new charges.
"People are very aggrieved."
