A Cabinet Minister says a flat rate water charge for some homes around the country will be introduced – because the Government has to get the economy on track as soon as possible.
The Children’s Minister Frances Fitzgerald made the comments after it emerged that a third of houses and apartments around the country will not be able to have a water meter installed – because of location or cost effectiveness.
These homes will have to comply with "universal metering" instead.
Minister Fitzgerald says the government will try to make the system as fair as possible:
Meanwhile,
A spokesperson for the Department of the Environment says around 300 thousand homes will be unable to have a water meter installed – during the initial roll out of the scheme.
But the Department expects that figure will be much lower as the scheme continues – and that the exact number will be a matter for Irish Water.
