The Rain Water Harvesting Grant Scheme aims to conserve water by maximising the use of rainfall run-off and reduce water costs on the farm.
Overview of Grant Scheme
The scheme will be targeted, in the first instance, at young trained dairy farmers. Rainwater harvesting facilities and equipment will be grant-aided at 40% up to a maximum grant level of €25,000.
Eligible Equipment
- Installation of guttering on existing buildings (for water collection only) – Guttering (round and box on buildings including downpipes.
- Filter Mechanism – Fine and coarse water filters (maximum one filter per downpipe which must be appropriately protected).
- Buried drains to direct rainwater from gutters to rainwater collection tank – Buried drains and manholes with covers.
- Sump pumps and sump tanks – Sump pumps and sump tanks for distribution of rainwater to rainwater harvesting tank (excluding any piping or water troughs).
- Tanks for rainwater storage (must be covered) – Rainwater tanks, including precast concrete, cast insitu concrete, fibreglass and plastic, allowed both under and overground all with covers.
- Water Treatment – Water treatment by either chlorination or UV treatment (must be appropriately protected).
- Water Meters – Water meters for monitoring of water usage – In the case of investments in relation to pig units, it is a requirement of the scheme that a water meter be installed (or be in place) by the end of the investment.
Eligibility Criteria
- The scheme is open to farmers who: –
- (i) own or have leasehold title to the site on which it is proposed to carry out the development;
- (ii) have a minimum of 5 hectares which have been declared under the Single Farm Payment Scheme/Area
- Aid/Integrated Administration and Control System in the year of application or preceding year, except in the case of proposed investments for pigs, poultry and horticulture enterprises;
- (iii) have between 30 and 2,000 production units in total at the time of application. In the case of Teagasc
- Production Partnerships, however, the maximum of 2,000 production units shall be multiplied by the number of partners in the Teagasc Production Partnership, up to a maximum of 3 partners;
- (iv) agree to provide relevant bank/building society /credit union details to ensure that all payments made by the Department are paid by means of electronic fund transfer;
- (v) meet the requirements as to reliability with reference to any previous EU co-financed operations
- undertaken since 2000 within the meaning of Article 24(2) (e) of Commission Regulation (EC)
- 65/2011.
Assessment of Applications
(i) Priority shall be given to applicants whose holdings are regarded as having heavy water usage which shall be calculated using the marking sheet referred to below.
(ii) Applicants will be given preference where the proposed costs are lower than the Departments Reference Costs.
(iii) Priority shall be given to applications involving the installation of a rainwater harvesting tank and/or a water treatment unit.
(iv) Priority shall be given to young trained farmers in accordance with the criteria below.
(v) Priority to applicants where any part of the holding that is owned or leased is in a less favoured area
Period of Scheme
20th December 2011 – 31st December 2013
Documents to be Submitted as part of the Application
1. Application Form
2. (i) In the case of rainwater harvesting tanks, grant of full and final planning permission, including
conditions, or a declaration of exemption that the tank is exempt from planning permission (where
applicable).
(ii) Where appropriate, copies of the drawings on which planning permission or declaration of exemption was obtained, stamped by the relevant local authority – see paragraph 12(a).
(iii) Farm Building Layout Plan – see paragraph 12(b).
(v) Where appropriate, original educational certificates (or copies certified by agricultural advisor/agricultural consultant/agricultural engineer)
3. Where development is taking place on leased land, Form RHS 2 and copy of lease, including map(s).
4. In the case of dairy farmers, Form RHS 3 or letter of milk quota allocation from the Milk Policy Division of the Department.
Submission of Applications
Completed grant-aid applications should be submitted to:
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Rainwater Harvesting Scheme
On-Farm Investment Schemes Division
Johnstown Castle Estate
Co.Wexford.
Qualifications of Young Trained Farmer
In order to qualify as a young trained farmer, applicants must be between their 18th and 35th birthday on the date of receipt of valid application and must have completed one of the approved courses (see attachment)
Avondhu Blackwater Partnership Ltd 