Uisce Éireann increase must be resisted as much as possible in Leitrim says councillor

Cllr Paddy O'Rourke asked the council to call on Uisce Éireann to "halt their planned extraordinary hike in water charges, reputed to be in the region of 29 per cent, along with an equally extraordinary hike in standing charges which will fall heavily on farmers with multiple connections. 

He said that farmers are making "great efforts to do their bit in the improvement of water quality by excluding livestock from using rivers and lakes for drinking purposes by providing piped water from main supplies."

Cllr O'Rourke said that it was "interesting that it was one of the items that the chairman of the IFA raised as a priority". 

Cllr O'Rourke said that the proposed rise in water charges along with the announcement earlier in the meeting that there is no funding available to community groups or local authorities to extend the public wastewater collection network in towns and villages where there is an existing wastewater treatment facility are "part of an overall package which is mitigating against this island having the derogation or even maintained at its current level."

He noted that there are 60,000 farmers who are part of the ACRES scheme and "they could very well see the first €1,000 they receive from ACRES go out the door in charges to Uisce Éireann if they are allowed to impose a 29 per cent increase on water charges."

He said many people in Leitrim have multiple connections and this will result in significant costs and said the increase "will have to be resisted in the strongest possible sense. I want the support of the members here to do what we can do and whatever individuals can do to oppose this as strongly as possible."

The motion was supported by the other members.