# Irish charities make pitch for water refund money

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2017/11/06/irish-charities-make-pitch-water-refund-money/
- Published: 2017-11-06T15:14:40+00:00
- Author: Howard Lake

**Three charities in Ireland have agreed to join forces and form a national campaign
to ask the Irish public to consider donating their refunds from Irish Water to tackle
the country’s homelessness crisis.**

Simon Community, Focus Ireland and Peter McVerry Trust are planning a major national
fundraising campaign to coincide with the upcoming [Irish Water national repayment scheme](http://www.housing.gov.ie/water/water-services/murphy-announces-timing-water-charges-refunds)
which will see €173 million handed back to almost one million account holders over
the coming months.

**SEE ALSO: [Winter fuel allowance donation scheme launched to combat fuel poverty](https://fundraising.co.uk/2011/11/15/winter-fuel-allowance-donation-scheme-launched-combat-fuel-poverty/)(
15 November 2011)**

## Advertisement

The three charities intend to launch a national advertising and public information
campaign called The Refund Project. This will ask people who can feel they can afford
to donate to consider the plight of Ireland’s over 8,000 people who are homeless.

The new group say that even a fraction of the total repayments could help make an
enormous difference in the delivery of much needed housing.

> If the water refund doesn't make big difference to you consider donating. Appeal
> for water refunds to go to homeless [https://t.co/IPKrS5ZhSU](https://t.co/IPKrS5ZhSU)
> — Peter McVerry Trust (@PMVTrust) [November 3, 2017](https://twitter.com/PMVTrust/status/926350829501800449?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

 

A special oversight group is being formed to drive the joint initiative, chaired
by the former head of the Workplace Relations Commission, Kieran Mulvey. Mr Mulvey,
who recently authored the Dublin North East Inner-City Regeneration Report, says
this campaign will be a simple but compelling appeal to those who can afford it,
to play their part in combatting the homelessness crisis.

He said: “There will be one million refunds and a total of €173 million being handed
back and that could be of enormous assistance to over 8000 people who are currently
homeless in this country.”

Meanwhile, other commentators have called for developing world charities to benefit
from the refund, particularly those affected by poor water supplies. 

> We are joining [@SimonCommunity](https://twitter.com/SimonCommunity?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
> and [@FocusIreland](https://twitter.com/FocusIreland?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) to appeal
> for water refunds to tackle homelessness [https://t.co/Klph1vk59K](https://t.co/Klph1vk59K)
> — Peter McVerry Trust (@PMVTrust) [November 3, 2017](https://twitter.com/PMVTrust/status/926410369874169856?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

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