Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Question 575: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, under the terms of the rain water harvesting scheme, planning permission is required in situations where the construction is overground and where it involves excavations in the construction of an underground tank, as this issue will remove the incentive for many farmers to proceed with this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22044/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Rainwater Harvesting Scheme was temporarily suspended for new applications on 8 June 2011 pending the outcome of the comprehensive expenditure review of my Department which is currently taking place.

Under the terms of the Scheme, a grant of full planning permission or an exemption from planning from the relevant local authority was required for all rainwater harvesting tanks. The provisions of planning legislation in Ireland are, of course, primarily a matter for my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. The draft Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2011 which are currently before the Houses of the Oireachtas provide for exemptions for such tanks in certain circumstances.