Housing Minister 'not giving consideration' to excessive water use charges

Eva Osborne

The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has said James Brown TD is "not giving consideration at this time" to bringing in excessive water use charges.

The department said the Minister for Housing is aware that work began under the previous government on draft regulations for excessive water use charges, but that this was undertaken as part of the commitment under the previous programme for government.

This previous work was reflected in the Ministerial Briefing Brown received upon taking office.

In a statement, the department said: "The Minister is not giving consideration at this time to bringing in such charges.

"No proposal has been brought to the minister in this regard and charges do not form part of the current programme for government.

"The minister is focused on implementing the programme for government and in particular he is focused on increasing the delivery of more homes which is his highest priority."