RESIDENTS IN THE Littleplace area of Dublin 15 disrupted the installation of water meters today in a protest against charges due to be introduced next year.

The residents, as well as members of the Anti Austerity Alliance, disrupted the work for two hours.

Speaking at the protest, local Socialist Party councillor, Ruth Coppinger, said : “It is scandalous that more than half a billion euro is being spent installing meters when the need for serious upgrade of the Dublin water network has been headline news this week.”

On the estate today, we witnessed a brand new fleet of vans, new barriers, diggers, uniforms – a massive outlay of money from the taxpayer in order to charge people for water and eventually sell the network to private companies. Imagine if this money had been invested in upgrading the water pipes and finding secure sources of water for Dublin into the future.

She said the protest was to send a warning to political parties that they will pay the price electorally next May if they persist with “this austerity tax”.

Also at the protest today were Socialist TD Joe Higgins and MEP Paul Murphy:

The Anti Austerity Alliance plans more protests and public meetings against water charges and austerity generally throughout the next months, it said today. It’s next local meeting is in Kavanagh’s, Laurel Lodge, Castleknock on Thursday 7 Nov at 8pm.