Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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279. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the total cost of the water conservation grant in 2015 and 2016; if his Department has made provision for the allocation of the water conservation grant in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35907/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Social Protection is administering the 2015 Water Conservation Grant on behalf of the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government. As of 21 November 2016, a total of 890,098 grant applications had been submitted by householders and processed. The total amount paid to householders to date is €89,009,800. A small number of residual payments continue to be made to householders who have an entitlement to the 2015 Water Conservation Grant.

The administration and payment of this grant required the development and implementation of ICT systems, ICT infrastructure and various customer support and communications services. The total administration costs for the 2015 Water Conservation Grant to date are €5,995,762.31. These include both the once-off set-up costs and the operational costs. All costs connected with the set-up and administration of the Water Conservation Grant are being recouped from the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government.

The Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government has confirmed that the Water Conservation Grant has been suspended for 2016. No grant will be available this year (2016). Accordingly the Department of Social Protection has not made provision for the allocation of the water conservation grant in 2017. An Expert Commission has been established to make recommendations on the long-term funding of water services. These recommendations will be considered by a Special Oireachtas Committee and, ultimately, the Oireachtas will then vote on the enduring funding model for public water services into the future.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.