Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 492: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the reason he is imposing charges for water meters in schools in view of the fact that schools offer a community and public service; and the further reason parents who are already paying water charges for their own supply in many parts of the country are now paying twice in view of the fact that charges are imposed on schools. [8590/06]

Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Independent)
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Question 509: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if water charges will be abolished for all schools as schools cannot be described as businesses as they are by local authorities and the payment of these charges deprives schools of education and maintenance services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8142/06]

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 510: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that local authorities are charging schools for water; if all local authorities are doing so; if this policy is based on an EU directive; if so, if he will examine the issue to ensure that schools will not be required to make this payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8143/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 492, 509 and 510 together.

The national water services pricing policy framework, consistent with the EU water framework directive, provides for the recovery by sanitary authorities of the cost of providing water services from the users of these services, with the sole exception of households using the services for domestic purposes. The policy framework requires full recovery of the cost of providing water services to the non-domestic sector by means of a meter based volumetric charge. The framework does not provide for the exemption of any classes of non-domestic users from the charging policy.