NI water bill deferral mooted

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/7611220.stm

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First Minister Peter Robinson has given his clearest indication yet that the Executive is considering deferring water charges for another year.

Speaking to business people in Coleraine, he said that at a time of rising bills it was not credible to place any greater burden on citizens.

It is known that both the DUP and Sinn Fein have raised the question of water charges at Downing Street.

Water bills are due to hit door mats across Northern Ireland next spring.

But with the credit crunch biting and energy costs going up a new charge would be no more popular than when it was originally proposed by direct rule ministers.

Peter Robinson said deferring the charges would place significant pressure on the Executive's budget.

However, he argued that it is not credible to place any greater burden on people here in the present dire global economic circumstances.

The financial implications of delaying water charges will almost certainly be one item on the agenda when Gordon Brown visits Northern Ireland next week.