Water charges for schools put back until 2009

Water charges for schools could be delayed until the end of 2009 as Taoiseach Bertie Ahern announced that the Government was considering a "transition" period for the complete implementation on the EU water framework directive.

The directive is not required to be implemented in full until January 2010 and Mr Ahern told the Dáil that schools needed a transition period so they could implement conservation measures and prevent water wastage.

Pressed by Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny as to what schools should do with the bills they have received from local authorities for water charges, Mr Ahern said to "hold them" and to wait until the Government issued a more detailed statement.

The transition "will involve the payment by schools of a flat rate that is appropriate to their size", Mr Ahern said. "While this must be worked out, clearly it will not resemble the increases that are being experienced at present from €300 to €6,000. That is not a reasonable position because it puts an enormous strain on schools."

Asked how long the transition period would be, Mr Ahern said "while it can last until the end of 2009, we will see what transpires". He added that he had received a report from the Attorney General on the legal issues involved.

"While it is fairly clear, the Government must look at those issues. At some time during the school holiday period, the Government will issue a statement dealing with the other issues."

As he revealed the details of the Government's plan, Opposition deputies shouted across the floor of the Dáil that it was "unbelievable" and "quite a climbdown".

Mr Kenny, who raised the issue during leaders' questions, said the controversy surrounding water charges "affects hundreds of thousands of parents throughout the country because they will be screwed to pay for these charges". The Programme for Government sent the clear message that schools would be given a generous allowance and that charges would apply once the allowance was used up and he claimed "that has not been done".

Mr Kenny had called on the Taoiseach to defer the implementation of water charges for two years, "so that a decent subvention scheme can be put in place to provide for allowances to schools above which charges can apply and in respect of which pupils, teachers and everybody else can understand the necessity of conserving water. Otherwise, the Government will bankrupt schools in the new year".

Mr Ahern pointed out that the Programme for Government contained a commitment to "examine the provision of waste and water allowances to schools and that charges will become effective after those agreed allowances are exceeded".

He said "the issue of charging for water used by schools has arisen in the context of the introduction of water metering and full cost recovery based on actual usage. While the installation of metering in schools is not complete, when it has been introduced the bills which have been generated will, in some cases, represent a major increase on the flat rate bills that were received previously". He said there had been a huge number of leaks in schools including Gorey, Co Wexford and Foxrock, Co Dublin "where the bills were massive. When the leaks were corrected for small amounts, the schools in question saved an enormous amount. While this can also reflect the overall levels of consumption, this was not the case in many of the schools".

A flat rate would be charged during the transition year period, "appropriate" to the school's size. "During this period, schools would monitor water usage."