The Society for St Vincent de Paul has expressed concern that childless households with more than one jobseeker, or with adults on low pay, are expected to bear the full brunt of water charges.
In a submission to the Commission for Energy Regulation, the charity highlights the Government's failure to cushion the low-income group with additional free units or related welfare payments.
The Saint Vincent de Paul's submission to the regulator criticizes the cost of water predicted by the Government earlier this month.
It says childless households with two or more jobseekers, or adults on low pay, are only being given the standard annual household allocation of 30,000 free litres which means they are expected to pay the same price as a household of high income dual-earners.
The charity expresses particular concern that at a time of continued high unemployment, and given the essential nature of water consumption, the low-income group concerned is being exposed to water charges without additional allowances.
It also says that after 2016, the financial support currently given by Government to Irish Water will taper off significantly, confronting all people and families on low and fixed incomes with extreme difficulties as they try to meet ratcheting charges.
It adds that a single part tariff in parallel with domestic water allowances and fixed pricing until 2016 may provide the short-term protection needed by vulnerable poor households.
However, it says that it is not clear what the long-term consequences of the Government's revised direction on pricing will be until more official data and analysis is published.
No comments:
Post a Comment