16/02/2009

£17m Pumped Into Water Payments By Stormont

The Stormont Executive has agreed proposals which would ease the impact of continued contributions towards sewerage and water services for businesses and other non-domestic customers in 2009/10.

The cost of the proposals to the Executive is £17m.

The Executive had previously unanimously agreed that existing non-domestic payments for water and sewerage should be extended in full from April 2009.

Regional Development Minister, Conor Murphy, (pictured) said: "The proposals we have agreed represent a significant saving for many non-domestic customers compared to the planned phasing-in of full water and sewerage payments."

Mr Murphy said the move would help reduce the impact on smaller consumers, with no phased increase for many and a new allowance for customers who are metered.

"Some larger consumers will see significant increases. The Executive cannot meet all the new costs without having a serious impact on other priority social programmes. But, with around £17m of anticipated revenue foregone, the Executive is sharing the pain with non-domestic customers," said the Minister.

"Of course, we will continue to look for ways of reducing burdens on businesses. The proposals the Executive has agreed will make a contribution to that," added Mr Murphy.

(PR/JM)

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