Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 188: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will extend to non-profit making sports clubs the non-metered water allowance promised to schools in the programme for Government. [34505/07]

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, including those engaged in the provision of educational, recreational or voluntary services, on the basis of recovery of water services costs through water charges by means of a meter-based volumetric charge which ensures charging accords to actual consumption.

The Education section of the 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. I have no scope to exempt any category of non-domestic user from the cost recovery requirement imposed by the Directive.