Sir, – The cost of getting rid of Irish Water, as estimated by itself, is grossly exaggerated. The meters already installed and the billing system are both good and will be needed.
What I would have understood by “getting rid of Irish Water” is the over-staffing, enormous salaries and bonuses. A slimmed-down company is necessary and should be acceptable to all. – Yours, etc,
SEÁN SMYTH,
Sandycove,
Co Dublin,
Sir, – It will be interesting to see if whatever conglomerate ends up as our government takes the position that those people who defied the law of the land – and those who incited them to do so – were right, and that those who obeyed the law should be punished financially for their naivete.
If so, it will make a comforting precedent for every dissenting group in the future. – Yours, etc,
TERRY PATTISON,
Glenageary,
Dún Laoghaire,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – I am always amused when I read in your letters page that “water must be paid for” (Maureen Walsh, March 5th). Obviously, but how?
The fairest way is by income tax, where each pays according to their means. The trouble has been that governments want to keep such tax very low to encourage support, so have left the local authorities short of funds.
Instead they set up the enormously expensive Irish Water, which spent a fortune on “advisers”, PR consultants, and installing meters that will never be used.
I, for one, wouldn’t mind paying (slightly) more in income tax to improve the service, but I refuse to pay out of my taxed modest pension. I simply cannot afford it. So let us continue to protest this unfair system. – Yours, etc,
WJ MURPHY ,
Malahide,
Co Dublin.