Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 514: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if, in view of a letter her Department received from South Dublin County Council in October 2006, advising her Department of the proposed increases in water charges for primary and secondary schools in the administrative area of South Dublin County Council, in line with the National Water Pricing Policy, her Department will now outline to the schools concerned the expected increase in water prices from January 2008, where a new metering system will be introduced in the county; if her attention has been drawn to the other local authorities where this price hike will apply; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30832/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The commitment in the Programme for Government is to examine how local authorities might grant allow schools a reasonable level of usage of water and waste services without charge, and that charges would only apply when a school exceeded the allowance.

The Deputy will appreciate that it is a primarily a matter for my colleague the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to determine precisely how this commitment will be implemented.

A key consideration from my perspective is to ensure that any proposed scheme ensures that schools are treated consistently across the country.

My Department will of course input to and support the examination to be conducted by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.