Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 October 2012
439. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will consider working with other Departments and private operators, to deliver waivers and/or cost reductions for water charges and waste charges for all State funded schools in order to alleviate cost burdens on the schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44789/12]
View answerFollowing a three-year transitional arrangement, schools have been charged for water services on a full cost recovery and volumetric basis since 1 January 2010. There are no plans to revise this arrangement.
The Government’s new waste policy, A Resource Opportunity - Waste Management Policy in Ireland, was published in July 2012. While the policy does not contain specific measures in relation to the management of waste in schools, it does support the development of a competitive and progressive waste management industry within a revised regulatory structure. The policy contains measures to ensure that the management of waste will be in accordance with the waste hierarchy, as set out in the Waste Framework Directive, whereby prevention, reuse, recycling, recovery are favoured to the disposal of waste and that the costs of waste management are borne by the original waste producer or by the current or previous waste holders, in accordance with the polluter pays principle. Consumers, including schools, can avail of information in relation to the prevention and minimisation of waste, thus reducing waste management costs, through the National Waste Prevention Programme administered by the Environmental Protection Agency. The policy does not contain any proposals for a waiver system for schools.
My Department provides funding to An Taisce to run the Green Schools programme which aims to raise awareness of environmental issues including waste reduction and the protection of the water environment. The programme helps to create an ethos of sustainability in the school, and promotes good environmental behaviour among students. Over 87% of all schools in the country are registered on the programme. Schools implement environmental plans as part of the process of gaining their Green Flags, and these not only benefit the environment but also can result in financial savings for the school.
