Naughten seeks to stop charges for undrinkable water

Local TD Denis Naughten will this week put forward a proposal to stop water charges being imposed on homes where the water supply is not safe to drink.
“I believe that it is totally unacceptable that families who are forced to buy bottled water because the water in their taps is unsafe to drink should have to pay for that water,” stated Denis Naughten.

“Not only will this help to ease the financial pressure placed on some families who have to purchase bottled water to replace an unacceptable public water supply but, more importantly, it will ensure that Irish Water prioritises such supplies to ensure that it is safe to drink.

The local TD revealed at one in four people living in county Roscommon cannot drink the water from their taps at present because it is unsafe.
“Why should those people be asked to pay for water which does not meet the most basic of standards?”

This Thursday Denis Naughten will put a proposal before the Dáil to ensure that these people - and anyone else who cannot drink their public water supply - will not be charged for it.

“I hope that Government takes this proposal on board, as I don’t believe that anybody can stand over a situation where a person can be charged for a water supply which does not even meet the basic human requirement of being able to drink it,” added Denis Naughten.

“I believe this is the only way to ensure that the issues regarding the water supply in county Roscommon are addressed once and for all.”