John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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268. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding private groups which have installed and maintained a private water supply, specifically a group water scheme which has been privately operated in County Waterford for over 40 years; if water conservation grants are being made available for groups such as these; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26554/15]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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Responsibility for the administration of my Department's Rural Water Programme, under which funding is provided, amongst other measures, for water conservation in group water schemes, has been devolved to local authorities since 1997. The selection, prioritisation and approval of individual group scheme proposals for advancement and funding under the programme, within the overall priorities set by my Department and subject to the block grant allocations provided, is therefore a matter for the local authorities.

To promote the 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 all households (principal private residences) that completed a valid response to Irish Water's registration process on or before yesterday, 30 June 2015.

Non-Irish Water customers (e.g. households on group water/sewerage schemes and those with private wells/domestic wastewater treatment systems) are also eligible for this grant. All households registered with Irish Water by 30 June 2015 will be contacted directly by the Department of Social Protection in due course. Further information on the grant is available at .