The Government's 'Water Conservation Grant' is nothing more than a "gimmick", according to Fianna Fáil.

General Election candidate for Mayo Cllr Lisa Chambers claimed the grant will end up costing Mayo taxpayers money and will do nothing to encourage people to conserve water.

Cllr Chambers said: "The Water Conservation Grant does nothing to incentivise people to conserve water, it is a blanket scheme that will actually end up costing taxpayers in Mayo and across the country €135m this year alone. This is another vain attempt by Fine Gael and Labour to get people to register with Irish Water, nothing more.

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"The Government's decision to implement a flat rate charge has completely undermined the water metering system, leaving unused meters rotting in the ground until at least 2019, at a cost of €530m. The setting up of this bonus driven quango has already cost €800m; money which could have been spent upgrading the infrastructure and fixing pipes. However, this Government and specifically Minister Alan Kelly have botched the process, resulting in a series of costly blunders, which taxpayers in Mayo are paying the price for."

Cllr Chambers also called for the grant to be abolished.

(CD)