Schools to finally get €10m water grants

MORE than 1,800 schools are to receive grants worth almost €10 million to help reduce their water usage and save money – almost a year after applying for funding.

The country’s 4,000 primary and second-level schools were told by the Department of Education before reopening in August they should conserve water to save on bills from their local councils. But the Irish Examiner reported last month that almost half of them applied for water conservation grants advertised in October 2009, and were led to believe the funding would have been available to carry out the work during the summer holidays.

The delays could cost schools up to €3m in a full year, according to the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO), which said parents would be forced to help fund those shortfalls.

Tánaiste Mary Coughlan will announce today that department officials will contact 1,823 schools approved for the €9.75m funding shortly to instruct them how to proceed. The grants, averaging €5,348 per school, will cover the costs of installing percussion spray taps, thermostatic mixing valves and water displacement devices.

“I would ask schools to ensure that they get best value for money on prices for jobs in the more competitive construction market,” the Education Minister said.

“These works will reduce the water charges being paid by schools and I am delighted to be able to provide boards of management and trustees with a means to do so.”

However, the INTO said many schools face much higher charges than those in neighbouring counties because of varying water rates between different councils.

Primary schools that responded to a survey by the union highlighted these differences, with schools in Co Mayo paying just 91 cent per cubic metre for water supply, compared to €2.39 charged by Roscommon Co Council. The standing charges in different local authority areas also vary widely, from €100 a year in Thurles Town Council to €212 in Dun-Laoghaire Rathdown Co Council.

According to the recent letter to schools, an average 250-pupil school with water conservation measures in place paying €2.16 per cubic meter could save almost two-thirds of the €3,335 bill faced by a school without such measures and where water is not used efficiently by staff and students.

The delayed funding follows last week’s announcement of the roll-out of a €20m technology fund for second level schools which was supposed to have been paid out earlier this year. It will be used to provide a digital projector and teaching computer in every second level class in the country.