Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister for her reply, the effective message of which is that she will go around the country handing out new taps to schools which will face an approximate 800% increase in water charges from the local authorities. Does the Minister accept the lamentable response to the question means the Government's answer is to establish a committee to look at the issue?

A committee between the Minister and her colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, is her only substantive response to the schools in the country. Does the Minister not accept that what is now required is for her Department to either fund the cost of the massive hike in water charges or ask somebody else to do it?

Why is it the case that at no stage did the Minister's Department or the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government seek a derogation from this framework directive under the EU? Schools are now being treated as businesses and it is happening under the Minister's watch. She is responsible for it and, effectively, asking parents to put their hands into their pockets to pay for these essential services. That is unacceptable.

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