Irish Water confirms huge drop in number of people paying bills

The amount people paying their water bills has almost halved, Irish Water has confirmed.

Irish Water confirms huge drop in number of people paying bills

The amount people paying their water bills has almost halved, Irish Water has confirmed.

Irish Water said households paid €18.3m for drinking supplies and waste water treatment during January to March as new bills were sent out in April and May when the Government announced plans to suspend charges for nine months.

The figure is down from €33.4m for the previous three months before the election was called.

Irish Water said 989,000 customers, 65%, paid some or all of their domestic charges in the first five billing cycles and 14,000 customers paid something for the first time during the billing cycle in April and May.

"Government has confirmed that any shortfall in funding from domestic charges during their suspension will be provided to Irish Water by the Exchequer," Irish Water said.

"This will allow Irish Water to continue to deliver on its business plan."

The company said customers remain liable for any bills racked up prior to the suspension of charges.

Sinn Féin spokesperson on Water Eoin Ó Broin TD said that the figures show that domestic charges are no longer viable.

“Irish Water has only managed to collect 27% of the charge due this quarter compared to 49% in the last quarter, 62% in the third quarter, 56% in the second quarter and 45% in the first quarter,” he said.

“These massive slumps in payment rates show clearly that water charges have no future.

“With the government and Fianna Fáil still only advocating for a temporary suspension of the charges, it appears they are not listening to the people.

“With the focus soon to turn to the work of the so-called expert Commission on Water, the government must abandon the delay tactics they cooked up with Fianna Fáil, and legislate directly for the abolition of domestic water charges.

“Everything else is only kicking the can down the road. Water charges will remain the most contentious of political issues until this government and Fianna Fáil accept that last February the majority of people votes to scrap water charges and abolish Irish Water.”

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