Students concerned about water metering
The debacle over the introduction of water charges has caused widespread worry and confusion among Galway’s student population.
Students attending Galway City’s two third level institutes are fearful that they will be double-charged for water – once at their ‘home’ house and again at their city student accommodation.
Student leaders have warned of impending chaos next year, at the end of the second semester in Summer 2015 and again in September, when the crux of who pays for water is likely to “come to a head”.
GMIT Students Union President, Sam O’Neill, says students are angry at the lack of clarity over the water charges issue.
He said Irish Water’s response to queries from the Union of Students in Ireland has been unsatisfactory, and has added to the confusion.
“We have been contacted by a huge number of students who are worried and confused about the charges,” said Mr O’Neill.
“There are two big issues. The first is students are fearful they will be double charged. Will they have to pay for water at their home house, and again at their student accommodation in the city? There has been absolutely no clarity on this and as of now, it would seem they are liable for both, which is grossly unfair.
“The second issue is students have already been contacted by landlords who are demanding payment for water. The charges hadn’t even come in and landlords were looking for money. The whole water charges issue, I think we’ll all agree, was very rushed. It has caused panic and confusion with everyone including students who are fearful about the cost.”
Mr O’Neill predicted the matter would come to a head next year, and there could be chaos with disputes between students and landlords over water charges.
“There are all sorts of problems. It will come to a head at the end of the academic year when students leave accommodation for the Summer and again when they start back in September. Are landlords going to start withholding deposits? What will happen in a five bedroom house where there are five students – do they all pay the same amount even though they use different amounts?”
Mr O’Neill recently met with Connemara-based senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh, and his Sinn Féin colleague, the party’s education spokesperson Jonathan O’Brien, and raised the concerns of students in relation to water charges.
Senator Ó Clochartaigh assured students that landlords cannot deduct water charges from deposits, and said they should not be issued with water bills for this year.