This article is from page 17 of the 2008-06-10 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 17 JPG
EAST CLARE Councillor Colm Willey (FF) proposed a novel idea to help schools avoid crippling water Ot heone
The colourful councillor asked the county manager if schools could receive a grant to sink a well in the yard for their use.
The suggestion, which received a smile from the head of the council executive, was made in response to a question from Cllr Tom Prendev- ille who asked for an outline of the charges to schools as set out by the Department of the Environment.
Cllr Prendeville told last night’s meeting of the council, “The Depart- ment of the Environment needs to know schools are cash strapped and under resourced. They rely on char- ity and local fundraising to make ends meet.”
Clir Cathal Crowe (FF) said the charges were also affecting sporting Ode ee aU ISTALB CO) ILE
“One group was advised to shut off water to toilets and urinals until it was needed,” he said.
Green Party cllr Brian Meaney blamed the controversial charges on the failure of successive Govern- ments to implement the EU Water Framework Directive.
“T think we are really at a stage where councillors here look at things
through Fianna Fail tinted glasses. The sad reality is successive Gov- ernments have failed to put in water directive. There would be no need to charge schools or other non-profit or- ganisation.”
A circular was received by Clare County Council from the Depart- ment of the Environment in January this year that announced transitional arrangement for charging schools for water services as part of the imple- mentations of the EU Water Frame- work Directive.
The transitional arrangement in- volves the payment by schools of the flat rate water charges proportion- ate to the school size for three years 2007 to 2009.
The amount to be charged to non- fee paying schools for these years will be based on the number of pu- pils at a cost of €3 per pupil for 2007, €3.50 for 2008 and €4 for 2009.
However if the actual usage as re- corded by a metre is less than that calculated per head then the lesser amount will be charged.
While Cllr Flan Garvey (FF) suggested that the council allow a threshold before charging schools, Clare county councillors agreed to write to the Departments of the En- vironment, Education and Finance asking that compensation funds be made available to the schools to help cover the charge.