The Taoiseach has denied that the Government's position on implementing changes to the water charges is a U-turn.
Bertie Ahern was speaking in the Dáil in response to Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny, who said the hallmarks of this Government had been inconsistency.
Mr Ahern said that given the need to manage the transition, the Government was considering the period of transition before full water metering is introduced.
He said that period had not yet been decided, but that it could be up to the end of 2009.
Speaking on RTÉ Radio's Morning Ireland, Mary Hanafin said that the Government planned to announce the transitional scheme next month, and that schools could hold on to their water bills until then.
She also said there was a recognition of considerable pressure on some schools.
'A lot of schools have paid their bills all over the years, there are just some who have particular increases who found that they weren't able to meet those.'
The Irish Primary Principals' Network has welcomed the two-year exemption, but it said that any meaningful solution must involve raising the capitation grant for primary school pupils to the level provided to secondary schools students.
