Council urges opposition to upcoming water charges affecting Leitrim farmers

A new set of national water and wastewater business charges are to come into effect from October 1, 2024 until September 30, 2025. 

Leitrim County Council has heard that these new charges will have strong impacts on vulnerable businesses and farmers, particularly in the north west area.

Sinn Féín Cllr Pádraig Fallon proposed the local authority contact Minister Darragh O’Brien TD, the three coalition Government party leaders and Uisce Éireann asking that the proposed water charge increases not go ahead.

“We’ve heard of how small rural businesses have been impacted by rate increases, this will also impact them. 

“Low income farmers from the north west will be most affected by this increase and the proposed hike will nearly double the standard charge for water connections.

“It’s reported that rural farmers and businesses will face an increase of between €250 to €5000. 

Leitrim woman Sr Brigid Reynolds awarded honorary doctorate degree

“We need to remember that many farmers have multiple connections. The Government needs to intervene here.

“It’s a public body, it was set up by the Government and we need to see action here. This is bad for rural Ireland and the rural economy,” Cllr Fallon said.

The motion was seconded by Cllr Bohan.

“I think already Irish Water are charging very high costs for connections.

“We have a case that was raised here before where people who wanted a connection across three houses were facing costs of €150,000 to do it because they have their contractors. 

“It has to be a contractor that’s supplied by Irish Water and the charges are huge,” Cllr Bohan commented.

“There are people in Leitrim that have access to main water and there’s people that can’t get access to wells so what we’re doing is leaving people behind,” remarked Cllr Mitchell.

“We’re all supposed to be trying to make sure that everyone has access to clean water, and at the same time they’re bringing in charges that are going to make it more difficult.”

Cathaoirleach Paddy O’Rourke emphasised the need to resist these planned increase in charges.

“It’s going to fall heavily on all sections of the community but it’s going to fall disproportionately on people with multiple connections. 

“We simply have to resist this in the strongest possible sense,” he added.

Tributes pour in for 'loving and kind' Leitrim man after unexpected passing

“The standing charge is a particular issue here because some of these connections don’t actually use any water whatsoever, but it’s there in case it’s needed,” Cllr Fallon concluded.