Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 1346: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if it is his intention to amend the Local Government (Financial Provisions) Act 1997 in view of the Government's decision to cap the amount of water charges to be paid by schools to local authorities; the nature of the changes being contemplated; when he will publish the Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1472/08]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 1347: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when he will amend S.I. 772 of 2003 in order to enable local authorities to confine the amount of their water charges to schools in line with the per capita allowances of €3, €3.50 and €4 per pupil for the years 2007, 2008 and 2009 in line with the Government decision of 4 January 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1473/08]

Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 1353: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the action his Department will take to deal with the widespread concern regarding the recent Government announcement on water charges for schools; his plans to discuss the matter with local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1685/08]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 1367: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the result of his discussions with the Department of Education and Science in respect of compensating schools for the implementation of the Water Framework Directive in respect of 2008; the additional cost to his Department of any conclusions reached in respect of 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1998/08]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 1399: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if there is an exemption from water charges for certain offices (details supplied); and the premises that are exempt from these charges. [2289/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1346, 1347, 1353, 1367 and 1399 together.

Following on from a commitment in the Programme for Government in relation to school water charges, the Government decided on 4 January 2008 to introduce transitional arrangements for charging schools for water services, pending schools being charged for water services on a full cost recovery and volumetric basis with effect from 1 January 2010.

In summary, for 2007 a flat rate of €3.00 per pupil will apply (bills for 2007 are to be recalculated on this basis and schools given a credit in respect of any excess payment and outstanding bills for 2007 are to be revised on this basis); for 2008 a flat rate of €3.50 per pupil will apply, and for 2009 a flat rate of €4.00 per pupil will apply. The relevant rates for schools receiving a water supply, but not waste water facilities, will be €2.25 in 2007, €2.63 in 2008 and €3.00 in 2009. Apart from any readjustment to arrears for 2007 arising from the recalculation of bills at the rate of €3.00 per pupil, schools are legally liable to pay all other outstanding arrears, regardless of the number of years involved. Schools owing arrears of water charges are being advised to discuss a payment arrangement for the outstanding arrears with the relevant local authority. In order to comply with the requirements of the Water Framework Directive, the transitional arrangements outlined above will terminate at the end of 2009.

The details of these arrangements have been communicated to local authorities and they have been advised that any reduction in income during the transitional period will be met through existing provisions within the Local Government Fund.

Implementation of the Government Decision of 4 January 2008 in relation to school water charges does not require an amendment of the Local Government (Financial Provisions) Act 1997 or of the European Communities (Water Quality) Regulations 2003.

I have not had discussions with my colleague, the Minister for Education and Science, in respect of compensating schools for the implementation of the Water Framework Directive in respect of 2008 as the funding of school running costs is a matter for her.

Local authorities are required to recover the cost of providing water services from the users of these services, with the exception of households using the services for domestic purposes. There is no provision for an exemption from water charges in the case of any non-domestic users, whether army barracks, garda stations, hospitals, airports, sports clubs, social welfare offices, Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Food offices or Post Offices. In accordance with existing legislation, only ordinary household use of water within a dwelling house is exempt from water charges.