Northern Ireland domestic water charging back on the agenda

The highly contentious issue involving the introduction of domestic water changes in Northern Ireland is back on the agenda.

A report from an independent financial watchdog has argued that setting water charges and domestic rates at the sort of levels facing consumers in other parts of the UK would help plug the Northern Ireland Executive’s current budget shortfall.

The Northern Ireland Fiscal Council has reported that levelling water charges for the first time and increasing domestic rates – a move that would leave households facing an extra bill of £800 a year – could raise more than £600 million a year for the Northern Ireland Executive. The executive is responsible for cash-strapped Northern Ireland Water and its spending plans.

The Fiscal Council acknowledged that such an initiative involved “significant political controversy”.  To date executive ministers have ruled out the introduction of domestic water charges.