Sinn Féin Spokesperson for Social and Family Affairs, Aengus Ó Snodaigh has responded critically to the Governments plans to introduce water charges to households in the future.

Mr Ó Snodaigh stressed the urgent need for Environment Minister, John Gormley to abandon his plans to impose the charges on ordinary households and in particular their intention to base the rates on the German model which charges its citizens more for water than any other country in the world.

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Instead, Mr Ó Snodaigh said he advocates substantial upgrading of the existing water distribution network from which up to 58 per cent of water supplies are currently wasted. He also stressed that rather than imposing more costs on struggling taxpayers, there is a fairer and more cost effective approach to water conservation which would not add to the dire financial circumstances so many find themselves in today.

(NS/CD)