Farm businesses must not carry the cost of higher water charges to offset recent concessions to domestic users of public water, IFA’s Harold Kingston has said. He is calling on Environment Minister Alan Kelly to confirm that, and also said IFA wants “double-billing” brought to an end, where Irish Water bills for domestic water and local authorities bill for farm business use. “It is farcical that a farm family will receive a bill for the water used in the home from Irish Water and then a separate bill from the local authority for water used on the farm,” said Kingston. “After all, it is all coming in the one pipe.”

Over 500 different rates apply, a situation that will last for a year or two, until standardisation is introduced.