Lesson of school water charges

THE school water bills controversy once again highlighted the total abdication of responsibility by the Government for the maintenance of essential public services.

In particular the suggestion by minister of state Conor Lenihan that somehow it was the responsibility of local councils to meet those costs was hypocritical beyond belief. It ignored the fact that this Government has consistently under-funded local government in the first place.

In figures supplied to me by the Dublin city manager, it is clear that for 2006 alone the shortfall is approximately €200m.

This is comprised of the shortfall in making equal the amount foregone on domestic rates, €110m; the cost of paying the benchmarking increases, approximately €76m, and perhaps most disgracefully, the unpaid rates on Government properties, €26m.

The Taoiseach says schools should “hold onto” the water bills, but he should not expect local councils to meet the cost from unspecified and non-existent resources. That would be unfair, unreal and downright opportunist.

For Mr Lenihan to suggest that the Environment Minister should “knock the local authority heads together” to force them to reduce or waive the cost of water supply ignored the responsibility of government to fund the education system properly.

As a parent of two young schoolgoing children, I appreciate the enormous voluntary effort of the many parent groups who raise so much money to meet basic costs.

It is clear that public pressure forced the Government to do a U-turn on school water charges and it is to be hoped it will finally see sense on this issue.

In the run-up to the referendum on the Lisbon reform treaty it is particularly odious to hear Government ministers blame the EU. They should stop blaming Brussels and cash-starved local councils. For once they should accept responsibility for their decisions and fund the education system properly.

Cllr Dermot Lacey

66 Beech Hill Drive

Donnybrook

Dublin 4