Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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159. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to revise the eligibility for the water conservation grant to include households which have paid their bills but which have not registered with Irish Water within the stated time frame; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36728/15]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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The eligibility criteria for the Water Conservation Grant are set out in the Water Services Act 2014 (Water Conservation Grant) Regulations 2015. Persons who register with Irish Water, as required under Section 5 (2)(a) of the Water Service Act 2014, on or before 30 June 2015 shall be eligible to receive the grant in 2015 if they were normally resident at the principal private residence on that date.

The grant is being paid on a universal basis to all householders in respect of their primary dwellings. It is important that all households are encouraged to reduce their water consumption. This approach is an important step in communicating to society the need to conserve water and is fair as it includes all those in principal private residences who satisfy criteria set down in the Water Services Act 2014 and the Water Conservation Grant Regulations 2015.

The reckonable date for registration for inclusion in the 2015 grant campaign is 30 June 2015 and only individuals who have confirmed their details with Irish Water on or before this date were invited to apply for the grant. These criteria were widely communicated by my Department, on and in the print and radio media. I have no plans to amend the reckonable date for registration with Irish Water for the 2015 grant campaign.

I will be reviewing the operation of the 2015 scheme when all payments have been finalised by the Department of Social Protection. Following this review, I will set down the administration arrangements for the 2016 Grant scheme in regulations under the Water Services Act 2014.