DUN LAOGHAIRE-Rathdown county council last night voted by a majority of three-to-one to continue to levy water charges.
A combination of Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, the Green Party and the Progressive Democrats outvoted Democratic Left and independents to return 18 votes in, favour of the estimates, with six votes against. Two Labour councillors, Mr Frank Buckley and Ms Mairead Doohan, abstained.
The water charges are £60 for homes with a rateable valuation between one penny and £14.99p, £95 for homes with a rateable valuation of between £15 and £24.99p, and £110 for homes with a rateable valuation of over £25.
Fine Gael's Ms Olivia Mitchell declared herself in favour of water charges.
"Charges are not something anyone wants to pay but if we are to avoid another 1977 election scenario we must pay," she said. She also said that if water charges were replaced by a PAYE tax, then Dublin, with the largest group of PAYE workers would end up paying for the whole State.
