Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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226. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will consider introducing amending legislation to enable Irish Water to share customer information with the Department of Social Protection for the purposes of administering the water conservation payment, thereby making it easier for customers who would not have to apply separately; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9595/15]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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To promote sustainable use of water and to enhance water conservation in households, the Department of Social Protection will administer, on behalf of my Department, a €100 water conservation grant for households (principal private dwellings) that complete a valid response to Irish Water’s customer registration process. It is proposed that the grant will be paid in one instalment to all eligible households in September 2015 and on an annual basis thereafter.

My Department, in consultation with the Department of Social Protection, is currently finalising the modalities of the water conservation grant. I will thereafter make Regulations under the Water Services Act 2014 which will provide for the terms and conditions attaching to the grant, including the date by which households will need to have responded to the Irish Water campaign if they are to be eligible for the grant. All households registered with Irish Water under its application campaign will be contacted directly by the Department of Social Protection in due course.

Section 5(4) of the Water Services Act 2014 permits Irish Water to share data on persons, both customers and non-customers, with the Department of Social Protection for the purposes of the water conservation grant.