Fianna Fáil has slammed the Government for diverting funds from motor tax and property tax to pay for a subvention for Irish Water.

Environment Spokesperson Barry Cowen TD said his colleague Seán Fleming uncovered that the Government is now diverting money from other tax sources to prop up this super quango.

Deputy Cowen said: "People have already paid for Irish Water through general taxation. In two months time they'll pay again when the first bills from Irish Water land in their letterboxes, and now we learn that money handed over for car tax and property tax is being re-routed to cover the utility company's costs.

-- Advertisement --

"The Irish taxpayer is paying on the treble for a sub-standard service. Over €500m has been wasted on water meters which will not be used for at least 5 years, while another €90 was spent on consultants' fees. Despite these extortionate costs, not one cent has been spent on fixing leaks or pipes.

"The Government is obviously concerned that Irish Water will not meet the so-called market corporation test, and is using all options open to it to secure revenue streams to keep it afloat. However, the manner in which the Government has gone about diverting essential local funds to pay for this financial fiasco raises questions about transparency."

(CD/JP)