Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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Question 362: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has any plans to introduce a grant scheme for premises to install water harvesting facilities. [15282/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Harvested rainwater can potentially be used as an alternative source of water for various domestic purposes, e.g. supplying toilet cisterns, car washing etc. and for various business and commercial operations. There are also 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. Large-scale rainwater harvesting systems are already in use by some schools, factories and other buildings and are increasingly being incorporated into new developments.

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. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine administers 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.

Question No. 363 answered with Question No. 354.