Water metering to further squeeze resources at older schools

PRINCIPALS have warned that pupils attending schools in old buildings could find their resources even further squeezed this year as water metering is due to begin in schools next week.

Teachers say that pupils will be disadvantaged by the charge as schools will have to take the money to pay water bills from their current budget or capitation grants paid by the Department of Education to the schools for day-to-day running costs.

The Irish Primary Teachers Network (IPTN) has said this money is used to pay for utility bills, books, technology and extra school activities.