Donegal County Council has become the latest council to oppose residential water charges.
The council today unanimusly agreed to oppose the charges at its monthly meeting at council chambers in Lifford.
It followed a motion by Sinn Fein Cllr Jack Murray who welcomed the support.
“Donegal County Council has unanimously endorsed my motion which opposed the Government’s proposed introduction of water
charges and stated that people should not have to pay for a public service which is a recognised as a basic human right.
“People cannot afford another charge on top of the money they are already forking out. They are already caught with the Universal Social Charge, Levies, PRSI, increased fuel bills, mortgage increases, plus the proposed utility charge. This is all on top of huge pay cuts and hours being cut back in their precarious jobs.
“Everybody recognises that water is a valuable resource, and it is clearly expensive to treat. However, this must be paid for through the central domestic taxation system as it is the fairest way and will not add a new tax to those who can least afford it,” he said.
He also urged his fellow Fine Gael and Labour councillors on Donegal County Council to bring the message back to the Government that the needs of the Irish Government and not private interests need to be addressed.
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