Domestic water charges were introduced in 2015 for Irish homes that are connected to a public water supply or to public wastewater services. Irish Water, the national water utility, administers the water charges. However, the Water Services (Amendment) Act 2016 suspended the issuing of domestic water bills for the second quarter of 2016. It also suspended domestic water charges for 9 months, from 1st July 2016 to 31st March 2017, with no charging or billing of domestic customers during that period. This suspension has been extended for a further 4 months by the Water Services Act (Extension of Suspension of Domestic Water Charges Order 2017).
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@9FX3HB91yr1Y
If the fee is going towards replacing the old lead pipes and providing safe and clean water to all homes as this tax functions in other countries, I would happily pay that tax.
@B24WB9Q2mos2MO
There should be a cap and after that you have to pay but there should be a free amount per household per month.
@B228BYG3mos3MO
Yes. The relationship between ireland and water is close and intimate. We do nt make the spanish pay for sunshine.
@9ZW4CM63mos3MO
Yes for fundamental use however if a house is using excessive amounts I feel it is only right to charge them as it will damage the environment
@9ZV5F2F3mos3MO
If the water is treated to a higher standard I agree with water standards but I don’t agree with the terrible water we pay for
@9ZTYMLJ3mos3MO
First provide a service that works and is of high quality without waste leaks or chemicals. then people will happily pay
@9ZTWQ6Z3mos3MO
As long as the quantity of water is secure for the population and private development can deliver this ove no issue with water charges.
@9ZT3FBC3mos3MO
Water is a human right, yes. But, overuse of water due to lack of cost is a prevalent reason for the water crisis in this country. Our infrastructure is dated and cannot cope with the demand. Based on the occupancy of each residential and commercial property, a daily/weekly/annual base allowance should be calculated (toilet flushing, washing machine, dishwasher, etc. all home appliances and general usage taken into account) - should be fair and not restrictive, but ample to prevent abusing the current limitless quantity of water. There should be allowances to apply for an extra occupant etc. if having guests stay for a period of time, etc. if this would cause the dwelling to go over the allowance.
Once over the stated allowance, a flat rate should be charged per litre/gallon, etc.
Have it be paid by tax. Raise tax if needed to pay for it
@9F4CFVY1yr1Y
No water charge but only a certain allowance of water
@9F4C8DS1yr1Y
It should be free up to a certain amount and then pay
@9F2MBPCIndependent1yr1Y
Yes, privatise it as well
Yes, but only for low income areas
@9ZMTNRQ3mos3MO
Yes if the money is spent on ensuring the water is better than it is now. This was not the case last time
No, we need to protect our water and our environment. Wastage will only be reduced if people feel it costs them money to do so.
The government have been to court in regards to high levels of toxic chemicals that is being drank by citizens, causing serious health issues. I have no problem paying tax if it meant only funding replacement of pipes yearly and work carried out by workers.
@9ZJGTL5PBB Solidarity3mos3MO
Yes until such a time as the service being provided is of a standard that merits payment. And charges should not be operated by private companies ever.
@9ZGRKYG3mos3MO
Clean water is a human right but if it was free then how would the government make up for the money? e.g. unwanted tax increase
@9ZGPCWLSocial Democrats3mos3MO
Charges are necessary to help maintain an aging water system but they should not be high and maybe attached to property tax.
@9ZGH96Q3mos3MO
Everyone should get a reasonable quota and when this exceeds then have a charge. Promote save water
@9YN486Q4mos4MO
Yes and no, honestly it depends on each household how much wastage is used. If there’s a household out there that abuses the usage of water then I say charge them but in terms of a household that uses a respectful amount of water then I say no. This could teach people to be more water efficient.
@9NWRGS2Social Democrats9mos9MO
Water charges should be based on the cost of cleaning the water and the average population density, a low density will have a low charge. transparency on how the water charges are used to clean the water is necessary.
@9NSJFNZ9mos9MO
If a sufficient service is provided and waters safe and healthy a small fee per household is acceptsble
@9NPWP5SIndependent9mos9MO
Should be part of general taxation or structured in a way we get value and transparency for our money.
@9NLLGK49mos9MO
The Tax on water should be determined on the cost of water treatment in the area. Hhence more expensive in cities and cheaper in the countryside.
@9NK7G7C9mos9MO
No, but there should be a reduction in income tax so that the household with average water consumption is no worse off
@9NFG7H29mos9MO
No, as long as the charge is directly given to the organisation mandated to upgrade the system. And they are forced to work at a very low operating margin (c. 3%).
@9NCKBFS9mos9MO
Water needs to be treated coming into homes to ensure it is drinkable. It also needs to get there via a pipe network. Waste water needs treating too. It may be a basic human right but it’s not free to make is safe and transport it to a home
@9N7P5PN9mos9MO
water is a human right and therefore shouldn't be charged- it also encourages plastic waste. there should be incentives to reduce water waste. if water is charged the water should be quality. we should invest more in how to repurpose rainwater
@9MZK8989mos9MO
An allowance per person in a household should be established, and any usage over and above that allowance is charged.
@9MY38KG9mos9MO
Roll it into other taxes. We of course need to pay for the treatment and supply of water, and the maintaince of the infrastructure, but the whole addition of the specific charge was poorly done and has added lasting distrust between the public and the Irish governement.
water charges should pay for the cleaning of water and upkeep of the infrastructure. How else do you this we should pay for it?
This depends on what services are being provided to test water purity and the development t of needed infrastructure for water treatment, maintenance, etc
It should remain but never privatised. Also one a town's infrastructure has been upgraded maybe the rate of payment can be reduced. It shouldnt be a cash cow.
A council tax covering waste collection and water rates should be put in place, people can see where the money is going
@9HR7YGD1yr1Y
Water service businesses should be privatized with no price restrictions and only enact antitrust laws to ensure that market forces determine market prices
If infrastructure is improved then charges are okay, not just putting in a charge for the sake of it
@9DXD8RW1yr1Y
Yes, but the water system should be a public entity and paid for through taxation
@9DM9X3Q1yr1Y
Water charges should be abolished, but a water charge should be added for reverse osmosis water system for any home owner who decides to opt for one
Yes As water should be free as a basic human liberty but can be charged for if there is a drought
@9D9R2PV2yrs2Y
Yes but provide incentives to keep people from wasting water.
There needs to be investment to make it function properly before we are expected to pay for it. If it is a privately run company, like a bank or restaurant, we should only have to pay when that service is functioning.
@9ZFMSHN3mos3MO
I don’t mind paying for water if the water provided was clean and there were no problems with sewerage.
@9ZBQLN54mos4MO
Every household should have free water until they use a certain amount each day. Only then will they be charged
@9ZBBNK34mos4MO
i think that in order to have a high quality public water system there has to be some sort of charge.
I think it should depend on circumstances . Private properties pay for wells so other properties should have to pay for water but water is an essential need to live so I don’t think people should have to pay for it .
@9YN6Z6J4mos4MO
In terms of maintaining water treatment plants/infrastructure the funds should be taken from tax rather than a separate water charge
@9W4KNMS4mos4MO
No, but the government should make sure everyone has access to water, even people who can’t afford it.
@9FVS56SIndependent1yr1Y
based on how many people live in the household if they go over their allowance they should be charged.
@9FLJ4BF1yr1Y
yes, but there should be a limit on how much water each household is using
@9FJR8C51yr1Y
No, but it should be removed from motor tax
@9ZGLBG63mos3MO
You should be charged on the electricity used to pump/deliver the water to your house, not on the water itself.
@9ZSNLQY3mos3MO
Water charges are fine as long as the service being provided is adequate. We currently lose water every couple of weeks. That's not a service id pay for.
@9ZRR6FC3mos3MO
There shouldn't be any unless a certain threshold is exceeded to where an excessive amount is being used
@9BBWHKXIndependent2yrs2Y
I would favour a threshold that when reached, a fee is imposed and the higher the use, the higher the fee.
@97YN924Fianna Fáil2yrs2Y
The network needs to be fixed but we're the only eu nation I believe not paying a water tax
@96QHBLJ2yrs2Y
Yes, water is a necessity to survive.
No, but only reintroduced when charges are fair (meters installed to all users)
@969JY222yrs2Y
Free up to a certain amount, and then charged beyond that.
@95YHYM22yrs2Y
I believe it businesses should be charged for water but not homes
@95X24MS2yrs2Y
Covered in overall tax paid
They should only apply to massively excessive water usage such as companies with pools.
@95KQM6S2yrs2Y
Should be incorporated as a flat per resident tax in domestic cases, paid to the local council without the installation of water meters.
@95JCZ482yrs2Y
For higher income areas only
@94JGQ4H2yrs2Y
the government under enda kenny wasted all that money putting in meters instead of fixing the pipes the system need an over haul but no charges
@93ZLLPN3yrs3Y
Water should be paid by flat tax.
@93S26SS3yrs3Y
No, I have no problem paying for water if the water is of good quality. But I only want to pay for it once.
@93N7ZMV3yrs3Y
They should be changed to allow for a reasonable allowance of free water, charges should only be triggered when excessive water is used
@93GBMJ53yrs3Y
Yes unless you are using an absurd amount of water
@93B62R23yrs3Y
It's an additional tax. Taxes should already pay for utilities
Utilities ought to be nationalised properties, and financed by levies. Surpluses generated ought to be reinvested in infrastructure or returned to the public finances.
@936CGW63yrs3Y
Depending on the wealth of the Irish economy
@92PQWQS3yrs3Y
if you earn over a certain amount you should have to pay
@92FCTRC3yrs3Y
Yes. If people do not want water charges, they should also abolish local area water scheme charges, and fund the drilling of water wells, installing and maintenance of wells for individual homes in rural areas
@92BXXWC3yrs3Y
No but their should be a limit to avoid drought
@8ZP8PFFSocial Democrats3yrs3Y
No, because water infrastructure costs money to maintain.
@8ZML6G63yrs3Y
Depends on the use of the water
It should be included in another tax and bring the percentage up slightly
@8YYTV56Social Democrats3yrs3Y
If a charge was introduced in a form of tax then yes only on the grounds the return is very obviously beneficial and abolish the water tax on this basis. If it’s a charge for thr sake of charging people then non
there should be a limit to how much you use you should be charged for that water usage and the money should go to funding fir water resources
@8YMFG473yrs3Y
Yes, but only if the public vote for it
@8Y963PR3yrs3Y
include in general council tax with waivers for those who may need it
@8XSVGX7Social Democrats3yrs3Y
No, but water should not be privatised and there should be clear targets for improvements. Failure to meet these targets should result in a full refund of charges.
@8XN2ZKN3yrs3Y
only private companys should should be able to charge people since i am a pure capitalist
No but every household deserves a certain amount of free water to reduce water wastage there should be a cut off point based on household income and ability to pay.
@8W9WRFS3yrs3Y
Yes, pending the introduction of a stable, efficient, transparent, and reliable alternative to Irish Water, then charges should be introduced gradually depending on income, usage, etc.
@8VZKZ3B3yrs3Y
Yes but still there should be a limit to how much you can use and then you have to pay after that.
@8TN7YBT4yrs4Y
I would have no problem with paying for water if the water structure and maintenance was correctly managed.
@8TN6P534yrs4Y
Yes, but only for residential premises.
@8TN5LKB4yrs4Y
The infrastructure needs improvement. Only when it's in place then water charges could be implemented to maintain and improve services further. We need an adequate baseline first.
@8TGVWTY4yrs4Y
Yes but should be combined with property tax
@8TFQWGP4yrs4Y
No, but greater warning should of been given to citizens
@8T7QRPG4yrs4Y
No, water charges need to be reformed.
@8T3PBNB4yrs4Y
Yes and bring back rates
@8SRMK3C4yrs4Y
Water charges should be included in the property tax.
@8SQMNL84yrs4Y
Yes, privatisation of basic human rights is inhumane.
@8SLH2TX4yrs4Y
They should be decreased as many are taxed to much already
@8S7LFBG4yrs4Y
Allow but rework the means by which the tax is collected
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