PRESS RELEASE

REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT

27 February 2008

RD 15 /07

Immediate action needed to address the problems in water charging

Commenting on the recent revelations about potential increases in the charges facing domestic water customers, the Chairperson of the Committee for Regional Development, Fred Cobain MLA, said:

“The Committee met on Monday and again today to consider the revised estimates of costs for non-domestic water and sewerage customers and the potential impact these revised estimates may have on domestic bills. During these meetings we discussed the issue with the Department for Regional Development, Northern Ireland Water and the Water Regulator.

“Water reform has been a long and, at times, a contentious process and business and domestic customers need to have confidence in Northern Ireland Water.

“Mitigating any potential impact on domestic customers and learning the lessons from how and why this problem arose in the first place is now a matter of urgency.

“The Committee is urging Northern Ireland Water and the Department for Regional Development to take immediate action in this regard and will continue to keep a watching brief as this process develops.”

Ends

Notes for Editors :

Membership of the Regional Development Committee is as follows:

Chairperson:	Mr Fred Cobain
Deputy Chairperson:	Mr Jim Wells
Committee Members:	Mr William Irwin
	Mr Stephen Moutray
	Mr George Robinson
	Mr Brian Wilson
	Mr Cathal Boylan
	Mr Willie Clarke
	Mr Raymond McCartney
	Mr John Dallat
	Mr John McCallister

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