With the constant debate over water meters being installed going on here, attention has been drawn to other European country’s water supplier ethics. Italian water supplier Padania Acque Gestione actually allows customers who have defaulted on their payments settle their accounts by taking part in community services.
Padania Acque Gestione ask that people tend to public gardens and help the elderly. This initiative has access to public funding and will evaluate the appeals on a case-by-case basis and have a full ethics committee in place. I think this option would work wonderfully here along with it’s nice sentiment – Ireland is known for being a hugely charitable country and I know plenty of people that would trade for social causes.