Laois TD tells Dáil Éireann that Irish Water is a ‘cash cow’ and a ‘real waste’

A Laois TD has described Irish Water/Uisce Eireann as a “cash cow”, and said the very establishment of the company itself has been a “real waste”.

Independent Republican Brian Stanley made the remarks during a recent Dáil debate on water services.

Deputy Stanley dismissed the suggestion that water charges will help to conserve water and address maximum usage, saying there is “no evidence” of that, instead affirming that “upgraded pipework” would be the best solution.

“The real waste is the cost of the charging system and the waste of money on domestic water meters for houses instead of neighbourhood meters,” the Laois TD said.

“Millions of euros were wasted on installing meters to turn Irish Water into a cash cow.

“The hope was that sometime in the future it could be hived off to the private sector and privatised.

“The real waste has been on establishing and running Irish Water.

“Count up the billions of euro that went into Irish Water during the past ten years. If those billions of euros had been given to the local authorities to fix the piping system and the sewage treatment plants, then we would be a long way on.

“An extra €1 billion is going to Irish Water from the sale of AIB shares. This is more money for Irish Water that should be going to the local authorities.”

Deputy Stanley also used the debate as a platform to tell the Government that Ireland “need to rule out household water charges for good.”

“There is an opportunity here to nail this issue once and for all and ensure domestic water charges will not be introduced,” the Independent Republican TD said.

“We need to keep water services in public ownership and enshrine this and the right to water in the Constitution.

“We could put this issue to bed once and for all.”

Deputy Stanley separately welcomed the news that following prolonged discussions with pharmacists, the Government to begin providing free Hormone Replacement Therapy.

The move will see the Government cover the cost of the drugs as well as paying pharmacists €5 for each dispense.

The Laois TD pressed the Taoiseach on the matter two weeks ago.

“I hope that local chemists and the Irish Pharmacy Union will continue to work with the Government on this issue and ensure the full rollout of the Scheme,” Deputy Stanley said.

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