27/04/2016

Irish Water: The 10 things you need to know about what happens next



Water charges 101: Will I get my money back? What happens next?

Water issues continues to dog Taoiseach Enda Kenny
After 61 days Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have finally agreed on the suspension of water charges, clearing the way for a new government.
Independent.ie Political Editor Kevin Doyle answers 10 key questions that arise out of the deal.
1. What is the deal that Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have reached on water charges?
After much brinkmanship the two parties have agreed to set up a commission of independent experts to look at the whole issue of water charges and conservation.
The commission will report back to an all-party Dáil committee which will in turn make recommendations to the Dáil. All TDs will then have the opportunity to vote on the future of water charges. A cynical analysis would say they have conspired to kick the can down the road.
2. How far down the road?
The commission and committee will have an initially nine month deadline to complete their reports – but Fianna Fáil sources say there is scope to extend this if the work takes longer.
During that period water charges will be suspended.
  • 3. So will charges be reintroduced after this suspension period?
Don’t bet on it. Firstly a majority of TDs oppose water charges so it’s unlikely the 32nd Dáil would agree to such a move. And secondly it would be a very brave government that would try to make an issue of this again.
4. What about the people who paid their bills? Will they get their money back?
It’s safe to say that you won’t be getting your money back any time soon.
There is some talk of getting the all-party committee to investigate this issue but the reality is that the politicians don’t know what to do. Both sides are talking about the need for equality but the reality is that there is no plan to refund householders who have paid.
5. Were people who dodged charges right along?
Well they will be feeling a little bit smug today. 
Sources in both parties say that there are mechanisms in place to pursue these people for arrears but with charges suspended it’s unlikely too many households will fear being chased.
6. Is Irish Water going to be abolished?
No. As part of the compromise Fianna Fáil has agreed to live with Irish Water.
The utility will remain but a new independent oversight body will be appointed to monitor its work in an effort to “improve transparency”.
7. What about all the staff whose job it is to administer water bills?
Hundreds of people are involved in dealing with customer queries and administering bill. It would seem likely that jobs will be lost but neither party is admitting this yet.
8. Who will pay for the €800m a year that Irish Water needs to upgrade outdated pipes and infrastructure?
You will. Our water infrastructure is in a desperate state and needs to be fixed sooner rather than later. The money will now have to come from general taxation.
This means water infrastructure will be in competition with health and housing for exchequer funds.
  • 9. So who won: Fine Gael or Fianna Fáil?
Fianna Fáil will get to claim that they used the leverage handed to them on Election Day to get rid of water charges. Fine Gael get the prize of government and Enda Kenny will the party’s first ever leader to be re-elected as Taoiseach.
In the public eyes, Fianna Fáil are the clear winners.
10. When will we finally have a new government?
Next week.
It could take Fine Gael  another 48 hours to close out the ‘Trinity Talks’ with Fianna Fáil. After that Enda Kenny still has to get at least another six independents to sign up to his minority government which will take another few days.
The expectation is that Mr Kenny will be re-elected as Taoiseach next Wednesday.
Online Editors

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