Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 5 Nov 2003

Vol. 573 No. 4

Written Answers. - Water Charges.

Bernard Allen

Ceist:

285 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government his views on the situation whereby second level schools are forced to pay water charges on a commercial basis despite the fact that they are closed after 4 p.m. each day and at weekends and are off during summer, Christmas and Easter holidays; and if he will issue a directive to local authorities to exempt second level schools from the huge liability of paying water charges especially in view of the fact that some of them are paying up to ?12,000 per year in charges. [25648/03]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Cullen)

The national water pricing policy framework requires local authorities to recover the cost of providing water services from the users of these services, with the exception of households using the services for domestic purposes. In this regard the policy framework provides for the metering of all non- domestic users by 2006. While flat-rate charging is acceptable in the interim, the move to universal metering of non-domestic users, including schools, will permit the application of a volumetric charge which can reflect periods when service is not being availed off. This is in accordance with an appropriate application of the polluter pays principle and the requirements of Article 9 of the EU Water Framework Directive. It builds on the already widespread practice of charging for water services. The framework does not provide for the exemption of non-domestic users, including those engaged in the provision of educational services, from the charging policy.

Questions Nos. 286 to 289, inclusive, answered with Question No. 284.