Tenants Who Have Not Paid Water Charges Not Eligible To Buy Local Authority Home

The Department of Environment has been accused of being "underhand" after it was revealed tenants who have not paid their water charges will not be eligible to purchase a local authority property.

Sinn Féin spokesperson on the Environment, Brian Stanley TD, said the issue should be dealt with separately.


Deputy Stanley said: "The Department of the Environment are being underhand about this. On the one hand, they refuse to answer questions on Irish Water as it allegedly has nothing to do with them. On the other, they are using peoples wish to buy their home as another stick to force people to pay their water charges.

"These should be separate issues and no-one wishing to take up the option to purchase ought to be penalised in this way."

(CD)