Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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489. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government in the interest of increasing conservation of water, and in the context of budget 2015, if he will examine the provision of grants for the harvesting of rainwater to include the purchase price of water butts, pump filters, piping and valves. [21501/14]

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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490. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to introduce a grant scheme for householders who wish to establish a water conservation system to recycle rain water in an effort to reduce their consumption of tap water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21506/14]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 489 and 490 together.

The Programme for Governmentsets out a commitment to the introduction of water charges based on usage above a free allowance. The Government considers that charging based on usage is the fairest way to charge for water and it has, therefore, decided that water meters should be installed in households that are connected to public water supplies. International evidence has shown that where meters have been installed, significant reductions have been achieved in the level of consumption and this is also borne out by the water savings achieved with metering in the group water sector. I understand that a comprehensive water conservation programme will be undertaken by Irish Water and will cover the full spectrum of measures including customer awareness and education campaigns about water conservation.  

I am fully supportive of 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, in so far 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.