Fianna Fáil has slammed the Government over water charges after it emerged that households are anxious about what it is going to cost them.

Dublin South West By Election Candidate, Councillor John Lahart, recently met with two constituents to discuss the water charges.

He said: "Two examples of constituents I have met in the last week – one an elderly widow who is literally terrified of not having enough to pay her water charges – and she has no additional source of income than her pension – and a father of three children all over eighteen; he is talking about water butts and pumps to offset the water bill he is terrified of receiving through the door.

-- Advertisement --

"The government is committing the biggest sin in politics – it believes it can bring in these charges because it is simply out of touch with the lives of ordinary people. People are scared and anxious. The government appears indifferent and uncaring.

"The government has continually lied about the cost of water charges and property taxes. They told us property taxes would go to local services in 2013 and 2014 – they lied. All the property tax paid to date has gone to towards the set-up of Irish Water.

"They lied about the annual average cost per household of water – the government said it would be €240 per household – now Energy Regulator says it will cost €280. The government lied when they said each child would have an average annual allowance of 38,000 litres. The Regulator has reduced that to 21,000 litres."

(CD/JP)