Socialist Party against water charges

Socialist Party calls for a re-launch of the campaign against water charges

As Live Register figures reach over 354,437 people and a projected 450,000 by the end of the year, householders may face an additional domestic water charge of up to €700-€800 per year.

Recent water shortages have enabled the government to claim the reintroduction of water charges as a method of water conservation. The Green Party says that if the domestic water supply was metered and charged for then water would be saved, helping to avoid water shortages such as that experienced by some householders in the winter months.

A survey in 2007 revealed that Dublin households use an average of 150 litres of water per day. In comparison in England where the supply of water is privatised and therefore more expensive, the average consumption per person is also 150 litres per day.

The Socialist Party, which has its headquarters on Thomas St in the Liberties claims credit for the mass resistance campaign launched in the 90s and the party, says it is preparing to re-launch its campaign against water charges and fight for the right of the Irish people to water.

Public meetings have already been held by the Socialist party across the city in an attempt to rebuild a network of activists to oppose the re-introduction of water charges. The Socialist Party claims that activists and communities were the winning factor in the previous campaign against water charges.

A Socialist spokesperson said, “50% of the houses built in Ireland have been built since the defeat of the previous attempts to introduce water charges in 1997, none of these houses have been built with dual flush toilets or water collection systems.”

The Socialist Party also claims that the water crisis experienced by Dublin city and Liberties residents over the winter months was not due to reckless domestic use, but rather related to the poor water mains infrastructure.