Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

Under the heading, "Improved Funding for our Schools", the education section of the programme for Government contains the following commitment: "We will ... examine the provision of waste and water allowances to school, with charges becoming effective after these agreed allowances are exceeded." The Minister has explained repeatedly that because of the framework water directive, the Government would work out this commitment between the Departments and would implement it. This is the first time in my memory of implementing programmes for Government that implementing a measure is considered to be a U-turn. This is extraordinary.

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