The Oireachtas education and youth committee, which I chair, recently compiled a report on school meals. It is a fantastic scheme led out by our colleague, the Minister, Deputy Calleary, and was hugely supported by the Minister, Deputy Foley, when she was at the Department of education. One of our recommendations is that we abolish water charges for schools. The meals are free in the classroom but the water children drink from the school taps is charged for. A lot of schools are in arrears on their water bills. I do not imagine anyone will shut off a school's water. It just seems like an accounting exercise, with one Government agency paying water charges to another body. As preparations for the next budget gather pace, is there any chance school water charges can be abolished in line with free school meals? Could such a striking out of charges possibly be considered in the upcoming budget?
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