HOUSEHOLDS in West Donegal who keep students attending Irish colleges may no longer do so because of the cost of water charges.
At a meeting in Gweedore on Wednesday night Mna an Ti were shocked to learn that if they keep 12 students for three months they could be liable for water charges of between €1,000 and €2,000 depending on whether or not they are connected to mains sewerage systems.
Local people have called for Minister for the Gaeltacht Joe McHugh to step in and do something to ensure the hundreds of students who provide such an important economic boost to the Gaeltacht area, continues to be viable.
Niall Mac Eachmharcaigh, whose family have been hosting Irish language students for generations said the meeting really brought home to the Mna an Ti that it will not be worth their while to keep students, by the time they pay their water bills.
“I think people came to the meeting on Wednesday night a little bit ignorant about the impact of these water charges. A lot of people left that meeting disgusted with this government and in particular Joe McHugh. They are looking to meet with him and we will see what comes out of that. He is a member of this government – one of the implementing these charges – so I would not expect too much from him,” Mr Mac Eachmharcaigh added.
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