Story: Inishowen Independent
THE introduction of water meters in national schools
should not be used to penalise cash-strapped schools
or gather revenue for local councils, an Inishowen
principal has said.
Albert Doherty, who is secretary of the Moville-Carndonagh
branch of the Irish National Teachers Organisation
(INTO) said the matter would be closely examined by
local members when they meet for their agm in
January.
Speaking to the Inishowen Independent this week, Mr.
Doherty who is principal of St. Patrick’s Boys N.S.,
in Carndonagh and a former county councillor, said
all funding issues for schools which may arise from
Donegal County Council’s Budget Programme will be
carefully examined by local members.
He questioned the introduction of the metered
charges saying national schools had been a good
example for local communities.
“National schools have been a good example to their
communities in relation to environmental issues.
Many schools have achieved their Green Flag status
and have set good examples in relation to water
conservation. They have been a good example to the
people in the county and it is unfair that they
should be expected to pay these charges," said Mr.
Doherty.
The former councillor added that the introduction of
water meters had led to the discovery of many
leaking systems, adding that the cost of repairing
these systems was adding further expense to local
schools.
He echoed comments made by the INTO general
secretary, John Carr, who said that at the very time
that leaks were being identified, funding for school
repairs is to be cut back.
Meanwhile, Sinn Féin education spokesperson, Senator
Pearse Doherty called on Environment Minister John
Gormley to abandon his plans to charge schools for
water usage.
“I am calling on the Minister to abandon this plan
and look at more imaginative ways of preserving
water. Everyone accepts that measures are necessary
in order to preserve water supply and quality.
"However, the imposition of charges on non
commercial users such as schools will impose
considerable extra costs and strain on the
educational budget. Other non domestic users such as
sports facilities could also find themselves facing
substantial costs," warned Senator Doherty. |
