Irish water will have to clarify this for me says householder

A Mullingar martial arts instructor fears that he will be charged commercial water rates at his family home because Irish Water bypassed his property when it installed water meters in their estate.

Karate teacher Ken Fitzpatrick got a surprise when the Irish Water contractors were installing water meters in Greenpark Meadows in August. “They put everything in ready for the meter, did all the work but didn’t put it in. When they went around knocking on doors they told me that they weren’t putting it in as this address is registered as a business.

“But I am a sole trader and hire out the parish hall in town. I don’t run a business from here. It’s a house where my wife and I live with our three children. It’s only for correspondence with Revenue.”
Mr Fitzpatrick contacted both Westmeath County Council and Irish Water to ascertain why his family home had been classified as a registered business.

“The council said that it had nothing to do with them, while Irish Water were quite vague when we called them,” he said.

With householders being charged for water since last Wednesday, October 1, Mr Fitzpatrick is eager to get the matter resolved.

“The first of October has come and gone and we don’t have a meter. I wouldn’t mind if I was a protester. We took it on the chin. We are in limbo. We are waiting for someone to come along and put the meter in. There seems to be a lack of communication between Irish Water and the council. It just seems a bit crazy.”

While he doesn’t have a water meter yet, Mr Fitzpatrick recently posted the registration form to Irish Water with an explanation of his current predicament.

“My concern is that we will be charged business rates. I hope to God that’s not the case,” he said.