Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 May 2014
292. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills if all schools will be subject to the full water charges to be introduced later this year; if schools will be eligible for a concessionary rate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23202/14]
View answer293. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will introduce an increase in the capitation grant for primary and secondary schools to assist such schools to meet the increased costs arising from water charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23203/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 292 and 293 together.
Schools have been subject to full water charges imposed by Local Authorities since 1 January 2010. During the period from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2009 a transition water charge was levied by the Local Authorities on schools. Under these transitional arrangements schools paid a flat fee of €3 per pupil in 2007; €3.50 per pupil in 2008 and €4 per pupil in 2009.
The transitional arrangement afforded schools the opportunity to put in place water conservation arrangements and practices and to undertake works that can help to reduce water usage significantly before full metered charges were introduced from 1 January 2010.
The Department has issued guidance to schools on the most appropriate measures to minimise excess consumption of water and to reduce waste, where it exists and are updated on an ongoing basis on www.energyineducation.ie. Schools are advised to develop a water management plan, in order that they would be familiar with the water distribution systems serving the school and the areas where water is used along with potential areas for wastage and leakage. Practical suggestions for reducing water consumption, along with examples of best practice, are also included.
Since 2008, rainwater harvesting systems are incorporated into the accommodation briefs for all major school building projects, where site conditions and circumstances allow and where economically viable to do so. While fitting the systems in new schools during construction is relatively straightforward, retrofitting them in existing schools is much more difficult and expensive because of the various dedicated pipe work systems both within the building and externally underground and the amount of making good work that is required in each instance.
For existing buildings it is more cost effective to minimise the demand for water firstly through installing push type spray taps, low flushing toilets, urinal controls, repairing leaks etc. To this end, funding of over €10 million was provided as part of Summer Works 2010 in respect of applications from schools for water conservation measures, with the aim of reducing schools' water charges and of contributing to environmental sustainability.
I have no plans to increase capitation grants to schools to meet specific cost items, such as water charges.
