Paul Connaughton (Galway East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 254: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if grants will be made available to homeowners in the next two to three years to install water harvesting tanks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12811/11]

Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

There is potential for the use of harvested rainwater as an alternative source of water for various business and commercial operations and for supplying toilet cisterns, washing machines etc. in domestic situations. There are also the environmental and economic benefits that can accrue from reducing the demand for water abstraction at source and the subsequent and expensive treatment of raw water for human consumption. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food recently introduced a scheme of grant aid for the installation of rainwater harvesting equipment on farms. Details of the scheme are available on that Department's website at www.agriculture.gov.ie. The introduction of a grants scheme for any purpose must be managed within current budgetary constraints and, in so far as the funds administered by my Department are concerned, there are currently no plans to introduce a scheme of grant aid for the installation of rainwater harvesting equipment by homeowners.