Schools to pay water charges

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern yesterday admitted all primary and post-primary schools will have to pay water charges costing thousands of euro each year.

Mr Ahern said while households had received a derogation from paying water charges under the European Union’s Water Framework Directive, schools were not exempt and would have to stump up the annual water charges levied by local authorities.

During Leaders’ Questions, Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said one school in Sligo was charged €8,000 while another school in Louth was facing a bill of up to €10,000.