Water Charges 04/01/2008

INTO Press Release: Statement by John Carr, General Secretary, Irish National Teachers’ Organisation On Water Charges

Friday 4th January 2008
 
Response totally inadequate says INTO
 
The INTO said today’s announcement was a totally inadequate response to the matter of charging schools for water.
 
The union had demanded a moratorium on the imposition of water charges on schools before 2010. This has been ignored. Instead, more than 20% of the increase for running costs provided in the budget will now be clawed back on this one item. With schools already asking parents to fundraise for running costs this is a stealth tax on schools that parents will have to pay. It shows how out of touch this government is in relation to primary education.
 
There is no mention of the commitment in the Programme for Government to provide schools with an allowance with charges only becoming applicable when this is exceeded. This means that full commercial rates will be charged on schools in 2010. This is completely unacceptable and will be a major issue in the 2009 local elections. The commitment in the programme for government negotiated by Fianna Fail and the Green Party less than six months ago must be implemented.
 
The INTO said government was trying to hide behind faulty legal advice. Charging children for water should not be a legal matter.
 
ENDS