Councillors in Galway are continuing efforts to ensure schools and community groups in Galway are exempt from water charges.

At this week's meeting of Galway City Council, many local representatives showed their support for a proposal from their colleague that a waiver should be given to city schools and registered community groups in relation to water charges. However, the city manager advised that the proposal, which was put forward by Councillor Colette Connolly, would be in breach of the EU Water Framework Directive, which he said obliges local authorities to impose charges.

Cllr Connolly has now agreed that her proposal be sent to the minister and EU representatives for consideration.

She said considering the EU Water Framework Directive can be interpreted in many ways, as reported in national and local media to date, the interpretation of the city manager was not the only one.

Cllr Connolly said she was worried about the effect the water charges would have on community groups and clubs, who work mostly on a voluntary basis to provide facilities for young people in the city.

"At a time when the country is faced with serious issues in relation to over consumption of alcohol and binge drinking amongst young people, it is essential that as a council we fully support community facilities for young people that promote a healthy lifestyle. To jeopardise the existence of these facilities through the imposition of an unwarranted financial burden simply defies logic and is contrary to the council's own policy in relation to the Social Inclusion Strategy of the City Development Board," she said.

The councillor added that she was also concerned about the impact the water charges would have on schools and said the recent decision of the government to impose a water levy on each pupil will create huge additional financial problems for schools already struggling to survive on inadequate resources.

"The Minister for Education has now directed that €3 of each capitation grant (rising to €4 in 2010) be diverted from educational purposes to local authorities to cover the cost of water. This will mean even less funding for core educational activities and schools will be forced to turn to parents for yet more in the way of 'voluntary' contributions," she concluded.

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