Water charges may be necessary in Ireland

If Ireland's water situation is to be improved, it may be necessary to introduce water charges to help improve the efficiency of any such plans, it has been stated.


Finance Minister Brian Lenihan told delegates at a Sunday Business Post national infrastructure summit in Dublin that the raising of taxation is being considered.

One of the touted ways to counter the water shortage in Dublin is to transfer water from the River Shannon.

And Mr Lenihan indicated that to make this more efficient, water charges, such as metering excess water usage, may have to come into force as is the way in other countries.

“Such a charge would at least help in generating better efficiency – the concept of moving water from the Shannon to Dublin is not a very easy one,” he said.

At the summit, the minister stated the prospect of introducing more long-term sustainable taxes, such as water charges, as a replacement for stamp duty, the paper also reported.

It was recently stated that the public will have until February 27 to make a submission on the idea of taking water from the Shannon, if they disagree with it.

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