'Govt misled public over water charges,' says de Rossa

Labour Party MEP Pronsias De Rossa is accusing the Government of deliberately misleading the public over the issue of water charges for schools.

Mr De Rossa says the Government is scapegoating the EU for its decision to force schools to pay usage-based water charges.

The Government claims the move is required under EU law.

However, Mr De Rossa says the relevant EU directive makes it clear that member states can choose whether or not schools are made to pay for water.

He says Ireland has purposefully chosen not to interpret the directive in this way.