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DONEGAL County Council
has revealed that water charges applied to primary
schools and farms in 2007 are to be rescinded.
In a letter seen by the Inishowen Independent,
county manager Michael McLoone said that unpaid
invoices issued to schools will not be pursued, and
schools that did pay the bills will receive a
refund. He added that farmers issued with invoices
that did not have the concession rate applied in
2007 will be issued with refunds.
Councillor Francis Conaghan, leader of the Fianna
Fáil group on Donegal County Council, welcomed the
news. “ I met with the county manager and asked him
to focus on two areas, namely, primary schools and
farms, where the charges were being keenly felt,” he
said. “School now have clarity. They will have no
water charges for 2007.”
Water charges will be applied to primary schools
this year in line with an EU Directive on billing
non-domestic water users. Schools will be charged a
rate of €3.50 per pupil for water and waste or €2.63
for water only. Bills at Inishowen schools in 2008
will average between €200 and €700.
INTO general secretary John Carr, a native of
Downings, welcomed the move by Donegal County
Council and called on other councils to do likewise.
He said the decision showed some understanding of
the current under-funding of primary schools and the
unfairness of levying water charges on cash strapped
primary schools. “It will give a welcome rebate to
those schools that have already paid the charges and
will be one less outstanding bill to deal with in
the rest of the county’s schools. The schools will
be able to put this money to good use on behalf of
their pupils.”
“Minister John Gormley should be aware of the limits
of school funding and reverse the decision to impose
a water tax on children going to school. Failing
that, councils should not allow themselves to be
forced to impose what they know is an unjust and
unfair charge.”
“The farmers’ refund is good news too,” councillor
Conaghan said, revealing that farmers who had up to
ten water meters installed last year will be charged
on a maximum of 1.8 meters in 2008. Some farmers
were billed for several thousand euro.
“It is a big issue for farmers and while I cannot
comment until more details become available we
welcome it,” IFA county chairman William Monagle
said. “Last year we advised our members to pay
whatever they paid in 2006 and adopt a wait and see
approach to the 2007 charges.” |
