Taoiseach Enda Kenny : households will pay for water meters.

The Taoiseach has confirmed that households will have to pay for their own water meters, however he said the cost had not yet been determined by the regulator. Enda Kenny said the cost will not include an installation charge because that will be covered by a loan from the National Pensions Reserve Fund.

Mr Kenny said there would be a cost for the meter itself, which he said would be "multi-functional". It has been reported by The Sunday Times that the cost of a water meter could amount to around €300, however Mr Kenny said any reports about the costs of meters were speculative.

The Taoiseach said the Minster for the Environment would bring a memo to Cabinet shortly. Under the EU-IMF deal, water charges must be introduced by the end of 2013.

Fianna Fáil has described the confirmation that households will pay for water meters as outrageous. Deputy Timmy Dooley said that while the party supports the introduction of water charges they were totally against the idea of paying for water meters. He said it was the latest in a line of fixed charges that the government was bringing in by stealth. Cllr Ruth Coppinger of the Campaign against Household and Water Taxes said charging for installing meters was unfair and the group believes that the best way to promote water conservation was to upgrade the pipe network which would also create jobs.

Sinn Féin TD Brian Stanley said any attempt to bill households for the water meters would be "fiercely resisted". The Cabinet will discuss the final details of setting up a new public sector body dealing with the country's water supply on Tuesday.

Irish Water will introduce water metering and take over the running of water services from local authorities.

Meters will be installed to 1m households over the next two to three years. A further 300,000 apartments will not have meters and will pay a fixed charge. Installation of water meters will begin in the next few months.

The Commission for Energy Regulation will regulate services and will be responsible for determining the cost of charges, the free allowance and the framework for levying charges.

Minster for the Environment Phil Hogan has said this will create up to 2,000 construction jobs.

Source : RTE Sunday, 15 April 2012