Water Conservation Grant

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 October 2015

Tuesday, 20 October 2015

Questions (648)

Dara Calleary

Question:

648. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views that it is unfair and discriminatory that persons must be living in the principal private residence on 30 June 2015 in order to be eligible for the water conservation grant; his further views that this especially discriminates against students whose tenancy agreements generally run from September to May; if she will make arrangements to alter this eligibility rule; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36340/15]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

The legislative basis for the Water Conservation Grant is set out in Section 5 of the Water Services Act 2014 and statutory regulations under the section, inter alia, provide for the general administrative procedures for the scheme. 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. These criteria were widely communicated by my Department, on www.watergrant.ie and in the print and radio media and I have no proposals to amend the regulations.

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