I return to the question I raised with the Taoiseach last week on water charges in schools. The Minister for happiness, whom I assume is joining us directly from the Oireachtas Committee on Education and Science, threw her hands up in despair when this matter was raised last week, the Minister who is going to save the world single-handedly said we should speak with the local authorities, the Minister for wastage of public money said he would not do anything until he receives a full report and the Taoiseach said the European Union was to blame.

The Taoiseach is aware this affects hundreds of thousands of parents throughout the country because they will be screwed to pay for these charges. Everybody accepts the principle of conserving water and the intention behind the EU framework directive of introducing appropriate financial incentives so people can understand that point. The programme for Government sent the clear message that schools would be given a generous allowance and that charges would apply once the allowance was used up, but that has not been done.

Five minutes ago, the Committee on Education and Science voted by a majority of one to accept a woolly motion stating that people should talk to each other and the Minister should discuss the issue, in keeping with the commitment to a joint approach between the Departments of Finance, Education and Science and the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. That is not necessary because the programme for Government clearly commits to examining how local authorities might grant schools a reasonable level of usage of water and waste services without charge and states that charges would only apply where a school exceeds its allowance. That is in the programme for Government and it is what the Minister for happiness said to people around the country during the course of the election. Everybody who voted for the Government supported that principle but nothing has been done about it.

Does the Taoiseach agree that the water pricing measures and the provisions in the EU framework directive as agreed and adopted are not required to be fully implemented until the end of 2009 or the beginning of 2010? Does he agree that position is clearly outlined in the framework directive? Does he agree that Article 9, section 4, of the framework directive allows for the flexibility and discretion being sought by Fine Gael and the Labour Party? As head of Government, will he defer the implementation of these charges for two years, so that a decent subvention scheme can be put in place to provide for allowances to schools above which charges can apply and in respect of which pupils, teachers and everybody else can understand the necessity of conserving water? Otherwise, the Government will bankrupt schools in the new year.

I do not have to remind Deputy Kenny that the Minister for Education and Science must be referred to as such.

I have been called worse.

The Ceann Comhairle is being very technical.

It is a happy title.

The Taoiseach is no Ritchie Ruin anyway.

In reply to Deputy Kenny, the education section of the programme for Government contains a commitment under the approved funding for schools heading, which states that the Government will examine the provision of waste and water allowances to schools and that charges will become effective after those agreed allowances are exceeded. That is the commitment contained in the programme for Government.

I refer to the Deputy's question on the Government's commitment to the water framework directive. It is fully committed to the implementation of the directive on the basis discussed over many years, which I outlined to the House last Wednesday morning. This is appropriate and necessary given the importance of conserving water as a natural resource. While the debate on the water framework directive went on for many years, I agree with it and its vision for the future.

The issue of charging for water used by schools has arisen in the context of the introduction of water metering and full cost recovery based on actual usage. While installation of metering in schools is not complete, when it has been introduced the bills which have been generated will, in some cases, represent a major increase on the flat rate bills that were received previously. I refer to the examples I mentioned last week where water leaks exist. There were a huge number of them in the Gorey school and in other schools, such as the school in Foxrock, where the bills were massive. When the leaks were corrected for small amounts of money, the schools in question saved an enormous amount. While this can also reflect the overall levels of consumption, this was not the case in many of the schools that were investigated.

Did he bring a bucket with him?

Given the need to manage the transition to an appropriate new system and to enable conservation measures to be implemented to deal with such issues, the Government is considering the implementation of a transition period. This would involve the payment by schools of flat rate charges that are appropriate to the school size, which is what happens at present. During this period, schools would monitor water usage and institute necessary repairs and conservation measures.

Is the Taoiseach telling them to get a good plumber?

The Government has also sought legal advice from the Attorney General's office on its long-term options under the framework directive——

Seven years later.

——and, in particular, its entitlement to put in place a scheme that would apply to schools on an ongoing basis thereafter.

Another U-turn.

The Taoiseach did not answer any of the three questions I asked. First, does he agree there is no need to implement the provisions until the end of 2009? Second, does he appreciate there is discretion and flexibility in this regard? Third, is he disposed to suspending this provision pending a resolution of the problem?

I welcome his comment that the Government is now considering introducing a flat rate payment and a transition period. Will the Taoiseach elaborate in this regard? What will be the flat rate and how will it be applied? What will it mean for a school that is in receipt of a bill for €6,000 at present? What is the flat rate and what are the criteria? Will it be based on the number of pupils or on an allocation of litres of water per pupil to be used and metered in the school?

Given that the framework directive states that the implementations must be in operation by the start of 2010, will the transition period continue until the end of 2009? When will detailed announcements on this issue be made? In the meantime, are those schools which are in receipt of bills for water or for water and sewage combined now entitled to hold on to the bills and not pay them until details regarding the flat rate payment and the transition scheme are announced by the Government? When does the Taoiseach expect to do so?

Perhaps I did not answer the questions in sequence but I thought that I had given a clear indication of the Government's intentions. The answer to Deputy Kenny's first question is "Yes". The directive requires member states to ensure no later than 2010 that water pricing policies in each member state will provide adequate incentives for users to use water resources effectively and thereby contribute to the environmental objectives of the directive. This is the commitment contained in the directive.

The Deputy's second question was whether I am in favour of flexibility and the answer is "Yes". This is the reason I have made this announcement. At present, a large number of schools are billed by local authorities and traditionally have been so billed. The reason they were unable to get a derogation in the first place was because of the existing practices that had taken place for years. Consequently, those schools that were paying a flat rate sum could not get a derogation, which is the reason they could not be excluded at the time of the negotiations on the directive.

However, there is a requirement for a transition period in order that the system can enable conservation measures to be implemented to deal with issues in which water is being wasted for one reason or another. The Government is considering the implementation of that transition period. While it can last until the end of 2009, we will see what transpires. It will involve the payment by schools of a flat rate that is appropriate to their size. While this must be worked out, clearly it will not resemble the increases that are being experienced at present from €300 to €6,000. That is not a reasonable position because it puts an enormous strain on schools.

In addition, the Government also must look at the legal issues. I have received a report from the Attorney General regarding the legal issues involved. While it is fairly clear, the Government must look at those issues. At some time during the school holiday period, the Government will issue a statement dealing with the other issues.

What about the bills in the meantime?

They should hold them.

Should they hold them and not pay anything?

No, they should just hold them until the Government issues a more detailed statement.

This is unbelievable.

That is a good climbdown.

Was that helpful?

That was very helpful.

We are sorry to disappoint Deputy Brian Hayes.

Oh happy day.

An ceannaire——

The Minister for happiness is happy.

Glaoim ar cheannaire an Pháirtí Lucht Oibre, an Teachta Eamon Gilmore.

The Taoiseach is a new version of Santa Claus. He comes with good news before Christmas and then bad news after.

This is unbelievable.

This constitutes quite a climbdown.

Does the Government ever consider such matters before making decisions?

Deputy Durkan will get the news on Christmas Eve.

We got the news anyway.

That hit the back of the net.

I call Deputy Gilmore.