AS the war of words between the Government and Opposition continues over water charges, the Minister for the Environment, Mr Howlin, has confirmed that he, will meet the newly formed National Federation of Group Water Schemes on Thursday.
The controversy will be discussed at Cabinet today, but the Minister is not now expected to produce a package of proposals until after Thursday's discussions in the Custom House, Dublin.
Mr Howlin, according to sources, is now examining the "anomalies" in the existing regulations governing domestic water charges. The federation has called for a subvention of £35 per household for people on group water schemes on a public water supply and one of £75 for those on private group water schemes.
It is widely believed in political circles that, in an election year, the Government will find a means of meeting the demands.
Meanwhile, the Government seized on the Weekend statement, from the Progressive Democrats that they would provide up to £23, million a year for the maintenance of group schemes.
The Minister of State for Social Welfare, Mr Bernard Durkan, accused the party of engaging in, the cynical "politics of promise". The Progressive Democrats were trying to buy a Dail seat in the west of Ireland, he claimed.
"It should not be forgotten that leading figures in today's Progressive Democrats bear responsibility for the disastrous 1977 election promises which nearly ruined Ireland," he said.
However, the Progressive Democrats' finance spokesman, Mr Michael McDowell, retaliated with a demand that the "warring factions within the rainbow Government get their act together and sort out the mess which they themselves have created".
Making no reference to his party's earlier commitment to provide maintenance capital for group schemes, he said the system was so obviously unfair that no politician in his right wing would try to defend it.
"There must be fair and equal treatment for all, regardless of where they live," he said.
The Taoiseach should "assert his authority around the Cabinet table" and ensure that Mr Howlin brought forward immediate measures to resolve the situation.
"If Fine Gael gives in to Labour and Democratic Left on every issue, then it is merely a party in government but not in power," Mr McDowell said.
But the Minister of State with responsibility for Housing and Urban Renewal, Ms Liz McManus, described as cynical and disingenuous attempts by the Progressive Democrats and their political betrothed in Fianna Fail to manufacture an urban rural divide" on the water charges issue.
The Progressive Democrats' promise of £23 million a year was unlikely to survive Ms Mary Harney's first "self help or no help Budget", she said.
"When the Progressive Democrats collapse under pressure and promise State subsidies for private schemes, it makes a joke of their self proclaimed role as apostles of the free market," Ms McManus added.
Patrick Smyth adds from Brussels: The Minister for Finance, Mr Quinn, yesterday described as "cynical" and "opportunistic" Mr Bobby Molloy's proposal to allocate extra State aid to relieve those in group water schemes. His proposals, the Minister said, amounted to a major subsidy to commercial users of water.
Given the hostility of the PDs to extra government spending, Mr Quinn said, the public was entitled to ask whether the call was a cynical intervention at local level by Mr Molloy and Councillor Joe Burke in Galway East or the official position of the party". Figures such as £23 million were plucked from the air", he said.