Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 June 2015
241. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the expected cost to Government of paying the water conservation grant in 2015 and 2016, including the payments to be made to the Department of Social Protection for acting as an agent on the Government's behalf in administering this grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24186/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra242. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the current cost to the Exchequer of the set-up costs and the administrative costs associated with the water conservation grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24187/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 241 and 242 together.
An allocation of €130m for the grant scheme has been provided in my Department’s Estimate for 2015 which is intended to cover grant payments and all administration costs including staffing. The Department of Social Protection will administer the grant on behalf of my Department.
The Department of Social Protection has estimated, on the basis of the scoping work done to date, that the once-off costs, together with the operational costs for 2015, will amount in total to approximately €6 million. This includes the development and implementation of ICT systems, ICT infrastructure and various customer support and communications services. Following the conclusion of a number of public procurement exercises by that Department, the budget will be finalised. As expenditure in forthcoming years will be limited to operational costs, it should be considerably less, resulting in overall administrative costs being within 2% to 3% of scheme costs.
The overall estimated requirement based on an estimate of up to 1.3 million households applying for the grant. This estimated level of demand for 2015 takes account of the number of primary residences recorded in Census 2011 as well as experiences with other demand-led schemes. The provisions required in future years will be determined as part of the annual budgetary process, having regard to the take-up of the scheme and forecast growth in household numbers.
The grant will be paid in one instalment to all eligible households from September 2015 and on an annual basis thereafter. During late August and September all households that have registered with Irish Water on or before the 30 June 2015 will receive a notice from the Department of Social Protection on how to apply for the Water Conservation Grant. A dedicated website www.watergrant.ie has also been established which provides information in relation to the grant.
