DONEGAL County Council
has been urged to cut the "high cost" of water
charges for farmers and businesses in this week's
annual budget.
Gleneely-based deputy mayor, Cllr Charlie
McConalogue said the rates must be reduced as part
of budgetary negotiations.
“Water rates are a particular bone of contention for
small farmers and small businesses with the high
standing charge for meters being particularly unfair
for those operating on a small scale," he said.
"This issue was brought up repeatedly with me and
other councillors during the local election campaign
and it is important the structure of water charges
is addressed so that small farmers and businesses
are not unfairly burdened with the cost of providing
water to the peninsula and county."
The standing charge for one water meter is currently
set at €290 with the charge for those with two or
more meters applied at a capped rate of 1.8 times
the standing charge. This means a standing charge of
€520 is the rate paid by a significant proportion of
farms and businesses in Inishowen, said Cllr
McConalogue.
"This charge applies regardless of the amount of
water that is used and it is a very unfair burden
particularly for those who operate on a small scale.
“I have come across a number of situations whereby
people who own plots of land have decided not to
rent their land for use as the cost of paying for
water to serve it would negate the rent received.
"Similarly, businesses with small revenues and
farmers with only a few livestock find the cost
difficult to justify.
"The estimates book being brought before the Council
next week outlines an option for reducing the
standing charge for a water meter to €175 in
recognition of the importance of the issue but we
must hard work during the budgetary process to
achieve as good a deal as is economically possible
for those affected,” added Cllr McConalogue. |
