Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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915. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will introduce a grant aid scheme for water harvesting for households, farms and businesses as it would assist in water conservation and alleviate the financial burden of proposed water charges by utilising rain water for purposes other than human consumption; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37794/13]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I am fully supportive of all technologies which contribute to the conservation of water. Rainwater harvesting has the potential to benefit the environment and contribute to reducing the cost of water services for certain uses. However, 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 currently no plans to introduce a scheme for the installation of rainwater harvesting systems.

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine administers a grant scheme for rainwater harvesting for farmers, details of which are published on that Department’s website.