Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny has told the Dáil that many schools around Ireland are paying thousands of euro to local authorities for the use of water.
He said he knew of one school in Co Louth that had a water bill of €10,000 and another in Co Cork that was being charged €7,500.
Mr Kenny warned that many parents of schoolchildren were being forced to organise fundraising events to help meet the cost of providing running water in schools.
In response, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said the charges were being levied under the EU water framework directive 1999.
He said at the time Ireland had won a derogation from the directive for the country's 1.4 million domestic water users, but this concession did not extend to schools.
Mr Ahern said the Department of Education and the Department of the Environment were working together to try and encourage schools to conserve water.
