‘Firms to blame’ for high school water bills

PRIVATE companies have installed meters in schools and subsequently billed them for hefty water charges, Independent Senator Joe O’Toole claimed yesterday.

Speaking in the Seanad, he said it was extraordinary that “well-known companies” such as Celtic Anglican Water and Veolia, which runs the Luas, had taken responsibility for supplying water to schools.

“I have been a member of this House for 20 years and I cannot remember the House ever deciding to privatise our water or to give our water away to companies,” he said.

“These companies are working for large profits and that is really the reason for the large bills.”

Five companies are thought to have obtained contracts with local authorities to maintain, replace and repair meters and bill schools.

Veolia Water is contracted by seven local authorities, while Celtic Anglican Water is contracted by Galway County Council for 10 years. Operators have argued that their work, which has been outsourced by the local authorities, has ensured that previously undiscovered leaks have been repaired and bills subsequently reduced.

However, Mr O’Toole said that he did not want to envisage a situation where in 20 or 30 years’ time the contracts would have to be bought back. “This is privatisation by stealth and people do not like that aspect of it,” he said.

The Irish National Teachers’ Organisation has demanded an independent inquiry into the involvement of private companies.

The union has called for the Comptroller and Auditor General to conduct an investigation into contractual arrangements and operational agreements entered into by local authorities with private companies.

“Schools are entitled to know if privatisation arrangements and outsourcing are behind massive water bills,” said union general secretary John Carr.

“Is meagre state funding being used to line the pockets of private companies? Parents are also entitled to know if their financial support for local schools will end up not supporting their children’s education but boosting the profits of a private company.”

Mr Carr said private companies are involved in this business for “no other reason than to make profit”.