“Schools are surviving on the charity and fundraising efforts of local communities,” said Carr.

“Now they are being told to invest non-exist funding in expensive technology or risk massive water bills.” He also said the requirements to monitor water usage showed that the Department had no idea of staffing levels in schools.

He said most schools could only afford to do in a part time capacity if they were to meet minimum wage requirements.

Despite this, the circular says schools should check water meters when the school is not in use to make sure there is no water consumption at this time.

“Recently in the Dail the previous Minister relied on the length of the school year to justify her Department’s payment of secretaries and caretakers,” said Carr. “Former Minister Hanafin basically told the Dail that schools had enough money to pay secretaries and caretakers because they didn’t have to pay them during holiday times….

“If meters are to be checked during holiday times then someone must be paid to do it.”

He also said proposals to install expensive automatic flushing systems for toilets or flushing systems based on presence detection would be greeted with bemusement by schools.

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