Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 169: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the funding, if any, available for rain water collection and recycling systems in schools; his plans to introduce such grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27056/10]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The funding and grant-aiding of school capital works and running costs are matters for the Minister for Education and Skills. I understand that large-scale rainwater harvesting systems have already been installed in some schools. The Department of Education and Skills has indicated that it will continue to address water conservation issues in the context of the design and construction of new schools or where major renovations are being carried out to existing schools under the schools modernisation programme. The introduction of a grants scheme for any purpose must be managed within current budgetary constraints and, insofar as the funds administered by my Department are concerned, there are no plans to introduce a scheme for the installation of Rainwater Harvesting systems.