Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Socialist Party)
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36. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she has conducted an analysis of the cost and number of staff that will be required to administer the €100 water conservation grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47088/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Department of Social Protection will administer, on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, a €100 water conservation grant for households that complete a valid response to Irish Water’s customer registration process. The grant will be paid to the registered householders annually, in respect of their primary dwellings, with the first payment to be paid in September 2015 and each subsequent year up to and including 2018.

The water conservation grant replaces the tax rebate and social protection measures previously announced.

The Department of Social Protection is in consultation with the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in regard to the staffing and funding required to administer the scheme. The administration and payment of this grant represents a significant project for the Department of Social Protection. The Department is currently carrying out a scoping exercise to explore the most effective and efficient approach to its implementation. This will include estimates of resources required to undertake the initial work involved and ongoing administration of the grant.