The European Parliament and Commission have been asked to "urgently and publicly" clarify that the Irish Government is not obliged to charged schools for water.
Labour MEP Proinsias De Rossa was speaking in the European Parliament in Strasbourg today.
He asked the European authorities to clarify that the Irish government is not obliged to charge schools for water under the Water Framework Directive 2000.
"There is simply no justification in EU law for the Government's refusal to waive water charges on schools. Indeed, article 9 of the Water Framework Directive 2000 makes absolutely plain that a general exemption from water charging is allowed if alternative ways are put in place to achieve the objectives of clean water and water conservation by 2015," Mr De Rossa said.
"Rather, it is the Irish Government's own regulations made in December 2003, which the Dail can amend if given the opportunity, is where the school water charges have arisen."
Mr De Rossa said the Government had "deliberately set out to falsely blame Brussels for their own decisions, and not for the first time".
Following a Cabinet meeting on January 4th, the Government confirmed it would put a stay on schools paying the full cost of water services on a metered basis until January 2010.
But it also announced that a transitional "flat rate" water charge for schools will be applied retrospectively.
The fees for 2007 will be €3 per year per pupil enrolled; rising to €3.50 per pupil this year; and €4 per pupil in 2009. Under that system, a school with 200 students will pay €600 in water charges for 2007, rising to €800 in 2009.
If actual usage as recorded by a meter would produce a lower charge than the flat rate the lower bill will apply.
The Joint Managerial Body, which represents 400 voluntary secondary schools, said the charges from 2010 would place "an impossible burden" on schools.