People in Galway building or buying their own new home have to cough up almost €4,000 to Irish Water as part of planning conditions.

The water company has confirmed that it is applying a charge to planning permissions granted by Galway County Council.

This is in addition to other development charges that are currently applied by local authorities when planning permission for one-off houses is granted.

Successful applications for planning permission normally are levied a development charge which goes towards the upkeep of local roads and recreational facilities.

But according to Cllr James Charity from Annaghdown, he has come across planning permission which now have conditions attached that relate to payments to Irish Water.

It is costing applicants thousands in additional fees, when a water connection may not cost a fraction of the charge imposed by planners.

It is understood that the €3,700 per house charge payable to Irish Water is not confined to one-off houses, and may also be levied on builders constructing new estates, in respect of every house with the development.

Cllr Charity was contacted by an individual who was granted planning permission to build a house in the Turloughmore area.

It was a condition of planning that the applicant had to enter a connection agreement with Irish Water and when contact was made with the new body, the applicant was told that this would amount to €3,700.

This is despite the fact that there is no road crossing necessary and there is a water supply running alongside the site of the proposed dwelling.

It transpired that the €3,700 was made up of a €1,500 connection fee and €2,200 ‘infrastructure fee’.

For more on this story, see this week’s Connacht Tribune