Cork City Fine Gael Senator Jerry Buttimer has said schools should not be charged for water, no matter how many excuses are trotted out by the Fianna Fáil/Green Government.
“Under Fianna Fáil plans, school water charges would be another unfair burden on parents, boards of management and school principals who are already preoccupied with fund-raising for other matters. But the FF Government is now trying to pass the buck for this issue to local authorities.
“Fianna Fáil and the Greens have effectively ended free education by making this announcement, and are forcing parents to engage in further fundraising for their children’s education. This is a complete betrayal of the citizens of Ireland.
“I am calling on all local authority members to waive school water bills under 2010 at least. It is within their remit to do so by way of a Section 140 motion. In the absence of Government support, and If Fianna Fáil, Green and PD councillors are serious about this crisis, they should direct City and County Managers not to impose these charges on schools.
“It is incredible that the Greens have allowed this situation to unfold on their watch. Before they entered government the Greens claimed to be paragons of support for community and education facilities. That support has now evaporated.”