Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 144: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to provide grants to households or manufacturers of water conservation and water recycling products in private homes in an effort to reduce household water consumption levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14791/11]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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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. Environmental and economic benefits can accrue from this type of approach through 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. However, 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 households or manufacturers for water conservation products or rainwater harvesting equipment.