Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 199: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills in relation to the design of the proposed 40 new schools recently announced, if the design team will consider methods for the protection of water (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19986/11]

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 200: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if consideration is given to the reduction of the use of public water supplies by using a method (details supplied) in regard to school extensions, refurbishment or new schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19987/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 199 and 200 together.

I wish to advise the Deputy that rainwater harvesting systems were first introduced for major school building projects in 2008. Since then all major school building projects, where site conditions and circumstances allow and where economically viable to do so, can incorporate a rainwater harvesting system into their accommodation brief. While fitting the systems in new schools during construction is relatively straightforward, retrofitting them in existing schools is much more difficult and expensive because of the various dedicated pipe work systems both within the building and externally underground and the amount of making good work that is required in each instance.

For existing buildings it is more cost effective to minimise the demand for water firstly through installing measures to reduce water usage such as push type spray taps, low flushing toilets, urinal controls, repairing leaks etc. To this end, as part of the Summer Works Scheme 2010, schools were invited to apply for Water Conservation measures and funding of almost €10m was made available to promote water conservation measures as part of this initiative.