No up-front charge for water meters, says Hogan
Environment Minister Phil Hogan
The Government has insisted there will be no up-front charge for householders having water meters installed.
Environment Minister Phil Hogan confirmed no one will have to pay anything until the end of 2014 at the earliest.
The assurance was given as the Government unveiled plans, finalised at a Cabinet meeting today, that will see the establishment of a new public utility, Irish Water, under the control of Bord Gais to oversee the rollout of water charges.
“There will not be any charge up-front for water metering,” said Mr Hogan.
The minister confirmed that the Government will borrow €450m from the National Pension Reserve Fund to cover installation costs over the next two years.
It is understood Irish Water will devise a payment strategy whereby householders pay an annual fee for water meters once the charges for usage come into effect.
About a million homes will have to be fitted with meters before the charge is introduced and the minister said he expects 90% to 95% of Irish homes to be metered by the deadline.
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