Written answers

Thursday, 5 February 2015

Department of Social Protection

Water Conservation Grant

Photo of Lucinda CreightonLucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Independent)
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82. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the total expected cost for the extra resources needed to oversee and manage the payment of the water conservation grant for 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5348/15]

Photo of Barry CowenBarry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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92. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the total number of staff expected to work on the administration of the water conservation grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5413/15]

Photo of Barry CowenBarry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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93. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if her Department has hired external consultants or other external bodies in the development and administration of the water conservation grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5414/15]

Photo of Barry CowenBarry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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94. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the total estimated costs of administrating the new water conservation grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5415/15]

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 82 and 92 to 94, inclusive, together.

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. The first payment is to be made in September 2015.

The Department is in consultation with the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform with regard to the staffing and funding needed to administer the scheme. The administration and payment of this grant is a significant project for the Department as it will require the development and implementation of requisite IT systems and various customer support and communications services.

Any IT development is in the context of ongoing technology investment that improves the efficiency, delivery and customer focus of the Department's overall schemes and offering to customers.

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 the ongoing administration of the grant. The Department has not hired any external consultants or other external bodies.

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