Handing over millions of euro of local government assets to Irish Water is “pure robbery”, and a “step towards the privatisation of our water” supply.
This is the view of Kiran Emrich, the People Before Profit Alliance candidate for Galway City Central, who was speaking in advance of the launch of his campaign for the 2014 Local Elections.
Mr Emrich has condemned the use of the Local Property Tax to fund the establishment of the semi-private company Irish Water, and the €50 million spent on consultancy fees last year.
“Such money could have been used to repair our ageing water system, thus reducing leaks and wastage,” he said. “The handover of millions of euro of council assets to Irish Water is pure robbery, and a step towards the privatisation of our water. It is time to make a statement to this Government that we will not accept the erosion of our local government.”
Irish Water is due to start charging households in Galway for water from October 1 2014. According to Mr Emrich, where water charges have been introduced elsewhere they have not led to a reduction in water use.
Mr Emrich will launch the campaign upstairs in Richardson’s, Eyre Square, on Saturday January 25 at 4pm. The guest speaker will be Dun Laoghaire county councillor Hugh Lewis. All are welcome to meet Mr Emrich, ask questions, and raise any issues they have
