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Council drops water charges 20.03.08

DONEGAL County Council has revealed that water charges applied to primary schools and farms in 2007 are to be rescinded.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.”

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