Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 229: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans to examine the provision of waste and water allowances to schools, with charges becoming effective after these are exceeded; when he expects this examination will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24521/07]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Article 9.1 of the EU Water Framework Directive requires Member States to take account of the principle of water services cost recovery, including environmental and resource costs, in accordance with the polluter pays principle. The Directive is being implemented in Ireland in relation to the non-domestic sector, which includes those engaged in the provision of educational services, on the basis of recovery of all non-domestic water services costs from non-domestic users of the services through water charges by means of a meter based volumetric charge to ensure charging accords to actual consumption. There is no provision for the exemption of any classes of non-domestic users from water charges.

The Education section of the Agreed Programme for Government contains a commitment to examine the provision of a water allowance to schools, with charges becoming effective after such allowance is exceeded. It will be necessary for any proposals to assist schools in meeting this aspect of their running costs to be framed in a way that is consistent with Ireland's obligations under the Water Framework Directive and my Department will co-operate with the Department of Education and Science in examining this issue.