FAQ - Water Conservation Grant

Irish Water: Aaron P

The Department of Social Protection is currently in the process of issuing letters to all customers who have registered with Irish Water on or before the 30th of June 2015. These letters confirm the customer’s eligibility for the 2015 Water Conservation Grant. Though the Water Conservation Grant is separate to Irish Water and is being paid and administered by the Department of Social Protection. We have compiled the below FAQs to assist with any questions you may have.

*NB – If you are a customer of Irish Water, you can find your account number on your bill. If you are not a customer, you will find your registration number on the letter that was sent to you by Irish Water.

1. Has the deadline been extended?

The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government Mr. Alan Kelly, T.D., and the Tánaiste, Ms. Joan Burton, T.D., have announced an extension of the deadline of the Water Conservation Grant. The new deadline for applications for the Water Conservation Grant is Thursday, 22nd October 2015.


2. I registered with Irish Water after June 30th can I now apply for the grant?

No, When applying for the grant, applicants will be required to confirm that the dwelling for which they are making an application was their principal private residence and was registered with Irish Water on or before 30 June 2015.


3. I registered on the 8th of October , when will I receive payment?

Those who have applied by midnight on the 8th of October will receive their payment in October.


4. What do I have to do to claim my Water Conservation Grant?

Between late August and the end of September, all households that registered with Irish Water by 30th June 2015 will receive a letter on how to apply for the Water Conservation Grant. You will be able to apply online for the grant here or through calling the Water Conservation Grant Support Team (0761 - 087 890 / 1890 100 043) from 18th August 2015 to 8th October 2015 once you have received your letter from the Department of Social Protection (which should arrive between 18th August and the end of September). Applicants will not be able to complete the application process without the information contained in the Department of Social Protection letter.


5. What will I need when applying online for the grant?

You will need the following information:

(i) Water Point Reference Number (WPRN) – this is found on the letter sent by the Department of Social Protection in August/September explaining the application process.
(ii) Irish Water Account/Registration Number – Your Irish Water Account Number can be found on your bill if you are an Irish Water Customer. If you are not a customer of Irish Water (if you have your own water and waste water services, or are a member of a group water scheme and have a septic tank) your registration number is on the letter received from Irish Water.
(iii) PPSN number – (formerly known as your RSI No.) This is your unique reference number for all transactions with Government Departments and Public Bodies (for example, social welfare offices, Revenue). It appears on a Public Services Card, Drugs Payment Card you use, as well as on a P60, P45, and PAYE notice of tax credits, a tax assessment or letters from this Department or Revenue.
(iv) TIN number – This number (Transaction Identification Number) is found on the letter sent by the Department of Social Protection to you in August/September inviting you to apply for the water conservation grant.
(v) The details of your bank account (IBAN and BIC code) into which the grant is to be paid.


6. What if I can’t apply online for some reason?

If you are having problems applying online, please contact the Water Conservation Grant call centre (0761 - 087 890 / 1890 100 043).


7. Is there an application form that can be posted out to me to apply for the Grant?

No, the application process for the Water Conservation Grant is an online one. Applications will be possible online at the www.watergrant.ie website. Alternatively, if you do not have access to the internet you will be able to phone (0761 -087 890 / 1890 100 043) and a Water Conservation Grant support team member will be able to make the application for you on your behalf.


8. What do I do if I Lose / don’t receive a letter?

If a household looses / does not receive a letter from the Department of Social Protection by the end of September, please contact the Water Conservation Grant Support Team on 0761 087 890 / 1890 100 043.


9. Why do I need a WPRN to apply for the grant?

A WPRN (Water Point Reference Number) is a unique identifier for every domestic water connection in the country, whether it is connected to the Irish Water network or not. Only one payment can be made per WPRN. This identifier acts as a security against over-payment to a dwelling.


10. Why am I being asked for details including my bank account and contact details and what will happen to the details?

The Department of Social Protection requires these details in order to ensure that the Water Conservation Grant is paid directly to your account. The details you are providing will only be used by the Department of Social Protection for the purpose of processing the Water Conservation Grant, and will not be shared with other organisations or used for any other purpose. When details are no longer required they will be destroyed.


11. I do not have a bank account can I have my payment made to a nominated post office?

No, a post office is not a designated method of payment for the Water Conservation Grant. However, payment can be made by cheque to a customer who does not have a bank account.


12. I changed my bank account since I applied, can I change the bank account the grant is paid to?

You can contact the Water Conservation Grant team at 0761 - 087 890 / 1890 100 043. If your payment hasn’t already been processed the Water Conservation Grant team can update the details that you previously provided and have the payment issued to your new account. After your details have been updated you will receive written confirmation within the next few days.


13. Will email and phone numbers provided during the application process be used for any other purposes?

No. They will only be used to provide applicants with confirmation of the grant application and may be used for future communications regarding the Water Conservation Grant.


14. My Landlord provided my details to Irish Water, and I received a letter which says I can register to claim the grant, is this true as I missed the June 30th deadline ?

The 2015 water conservation grant may be applied for by householders that have registered with Irish Water by 30th June 2015. Irish Water has run a series of advertising and media campaigns advising all customers of their obligation to register with them from September 2014 onwards. The letter sent to tenants following Irish Water becoming aware of the tenants identity is to advise them that the account for the premises they occupy is now in their name but that as with all other customers they have to register to be charged correctly. Customers registering after 30th June 2015 may be eligible for the 2016 water conservation grant depending on the guidelines published by the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government.


15. What happens if a person who had applied for the grant dies before the payment issues?

If a person dies after making an application for the water conservation grant, and the application is successfully processed, the payment would be due to go the estate of the deceased person.

soram

So I go to the website and enter my details but it won't recognise my AIB BIC and IBAN............how do I get further??? And before you ask I am 10000% sure the numbers are correct!


Stephen

northwestramble

It seems that on the website, the powers that be, decided that you cannot have a name longer than 17 Characters (including spaces) when you enter in your name in the bank account field. (Stage 4 of the process)
I cannot see any reason to have such a limit in place. The advise I got was, shorten you name

I pointed out that the bank might chose to say that the name on the form does not match the name on the account, and this could cause problems down the line. My experience with banks in the past is, if it does not match what they have on record, you sometimes can have a hard time getting it processed. Has anyone else had to shorten their names on this?

I was wondering, who designed this website, was it the department of the Environment, Community and Local Government or Irish Water.

mrswebs

hi i can not find my bill where will i find my account number please

Flatzie_poo

soram wrote: »

So I go to the website and enter my details but it won't recognise my AIB BIC and IBAN............how do I get further??? And before you ask I am 10000% sure the numbers are correct!


Stephen

Are you sure your numbers are correct?

3DataModem

Did these get paid today? A mysterious ton hit my bank account. 

Irish Water: Allanah

Hi all,

Thanks for contacting us.

soram wrote: »

So I go to the website and enter my details but it won't recognise my AIB BIC and IBAN............how do I get further??? And before you ask I am 10000% sure the numbers are correct!

If you are having trouble applying online, please contact the Water Grant Support Team on 0761 087 890 or 1890 100 043.

mrswebs wrote: »

hi i can not find my bill where will i find my account number please

We can provide you with your account number here if you like. Please send the following details through private message:

- Name;
- Address; and
- Contact Number.

3DataModem wrote: »

Did these get paid today? A mysterious ton hit my bank account.

As the grant is issued by the Department of Social Protection, please contact 0761 087 890 or 1890 100 043 and a member of their team will assist you further.

I hope this information helps. Please feel free to contact us again should you have any further queries.

Kind regards,
Allanah

dtlibra

I've also tried to claim on the website. I entered my details but it won't recognise my AIB BIC and IBAN....I'm certain they're correct.
I don't want to phone, as it would take forever! Why not make the website work

Irish Water: Allanah

Hi dtlibra,

dtlibra wrote: »

I've also tried to claim on the website. I entered my details but it won't recognise my AIB BIC and IBAN....I'm certain they're correct.
I don't want to phone, as it would take forever! Why not make the website work

As the grant is issued and administered by the Department of Social Protection, we would advise you contact them on 0761 087 890 or 1890 100 043. Please find more information here.

I hope this helps.

Kind regards,
Allanah

stitcheddepin

Hi Irish water,

i have a query. i signed up last march, created a direct debit etc, i recieved a letter a few weeks later with all the details.
The first two bills were not taken from my account. irish water sent a letter/and a text recently looking for the payment.

I re-registered, and set up direct debit again, i have proof of both registration being accepted. Anyway, the reason im boring you with this is because i havent received my irish water grant letter. i am hoping your earlier incompetence hasnt affected my approval for this grant. Please dont refer me to the generic reply about contacting the department of social protection, as the error lies with your department.

thank you, i await your reply
sean 

Irish Water: Mairead

Hi Sean,

stitcheddepin wrote: »

Hi Irish water,

i have a query. i signed up last march, created a direct debit etc, i recieved a letter a few weeks later with all the details.
The first two bills were not taken from my account. irish water sent a letter/and a text recently looking for the payment.

I re-registered, and set up direct debit again, i have proof of both registration being accepted. Anyway, the reason im boring you with this is because i havent received my irish water grant letter. i am hoping your earlier incompetence hasnt affected my approval for this grant. Please dont refer me to the generic reply about contacting the department of social protection, as the error lies with your department.

thank you, i await your reply
sean 

The Department of Social Protection is currently sending out letters and you may receive your letter between now and September 30th.

If you have not received your letter in this time, we would advise you contact the Department of Social Protection as they are responsible for the payment and administration of the grant.

You can contact the Water Grant Support Team on 0761 087 890 or 1890 100 043.

However, if you would like us to check your account to ensure that all details are correct, please send the following details by private message:
- Name;
- Address and
- Contact Number

If you send us a PM with this information, we can assist you further.

Kind regards,
Mairead

ninty

Went to fill up form online and was asked for my bank account name as i have only a joint account i went to fill in name of account but ran out of letters, what do i do.Only allows input of 17 letters including spaces. Have been told that in case of joint account just put in name of cheque recipient

Irish Water: Mairead

Hi ninty,

Thanks for your query.

ninty wrote: »

Went to fill up form online and was asked for my bank account name as i have only a joint account i went to fill in name of account but ran out of letters, what do i do.Only allows input of 17 letters including spaces.

We would advise you contact the Water Grant Support Team on 0761 087 890 or 1890 100 043 regarding this matter, and this can be investigated further.


Kind regards,
Mairead.

northwestramble

Hi Ninty
I was on to the Department about this, and they have confirmed they will be putting out a fix for this in the next few days. Here is the reply I got back from them.

"The limit of 18 characters reflects a pre-SEPA EFT limitation.

The Water Conservation Grant application system is now being updated to remove this 18 character limitation. We anticipate that this change will be in place within the next 7 days"

Plopsu

Can anybody answer this? Why does a body in Ireland paying money into a bank account in Ireland require a BIC and IBAN? My acount number and sort code are sufficient to get my wages from my emploeyer to my bank.

TheChizler

Plopsu wrote: »

Can anybody answer this? Why does a body in Ireland paying money into a bank account in Ireland require a BIC and IBAN? My acount number and sort code are sufficient to get my wages from my emploeyer to my bank.

To quote IPSO:

Q: What happens if I don’t use the IBAN and BIC?
A: If you do not use BIC and IBAN outgoing payments will not be accepted by banks within SEPA.

swoofer

your employer probably added them 

ElainePuff

HI I'm wondering if you can help. My landlady registered her property in which I am a tenant under her name with irish water. However I will be paying the bills. How do I apply for the water grant?

Irish Water: Niall

Hi ElainePuff,

ElainePuff wrote: »

HI I'm wondering if you can help. My landlady registered her property in which I am a tenant under her name with irish water. However I will be paying the bills. How do I apply for the water grant?

Thank you for your query.

We would advise contacting us on 1890 448 448 and member of our team will be able to assist you further by registering your details at the property and ensuring that you are being billed accurately.

In order to be eligible to apply for the 2015 Water Conservation Grant, Irish Water advised both customers and non-customers to register their details with us by June 30th.

I hope this information helps. Please feel free to contact us to any other queries you may have.

Kind regards,
Niall

Tjcurley

Hi,
I'm wondering can I get my wprn and account number please?
I don't have access to my bill as I'm away with work. 

Thanks. 

grahammck

Hi,

The Dept of Social Protection have said that they have not received any details about my account from you.  (I never received a letter from the either).  I have a bill dated the 21/5 so i have registered before the deadline date - can you advise?

Thanks,

Graham

Irish Water: Niall

Hi Tjcurley and grahammck,

Thank you for your queries.

Tjcurley wrote: »

Hi,
I'm wondering can I get my wprn and account number please?
I don't have access to my bill as I'm away with work.

Thanks.

grahammck wrote: »

Hi,

The Dept of Social Protection have said that they have not received any details about my account from you. (I never received a letter from the either). I have a bill dated the 21/5 so i have registered before the deadline date - can you advise?

Thanks,

Graham

We can certainly look into this matter would you mind sending the following details via PM:

- Name;
- Address; and
- Contact Number.

Thanks in advance,
Niall

gaiscioch

If you're a tenant you have to pay the €260 Water charge, but get no Water Conservation Grant of €100 if the bill is in the name of your landlord. Is this correct? I've been told that the landlord himself cannot claim the WCG off the property because he is already doing so from his principal residence. 

Is there any way for the effective payer of that €260, the tenant, to claim the WCG if the landlord has kept the water bill in his own name?

miss choc

I have my account number and WPRN but no Tin when I go to put in request Tin it asks for other stuff I put this in but water grant says it doesnt match its records.  I am assuming I didnt get a TIN number I cant remember cant get through to irish water grant place. 

Irish Water: Niall

Hi gaiscioch and miss choc,

Thank you for your queries.

gaiscioch wrote: »

If you're a tenant you have to pay the 260EUR Water charge, but get no Water Conservation Grant of 100EUR if the bill is in the name of your landlord. Is this correct? I've been told that the landlord himself cannot claim the WCG off the property because he is already doing so from his principal residence.

Is there any way for the effective payer of that 260EUR, the tenant, to claim the WCG if the landlord has kept the water bill in his own name?

If you are the occupier of the property you are deemed the customer and liable for water charges. We would advise calling us on 1890 448 448 to update your account and to ensure you are being billed accurately and that you are eligible to receive future grant payments. Irish Water invited both customers and non-customers to register their details with Irish Water by June 30th in order to be eligible for this years grant.

miss choc wrote: »

I have my account number and WPRN but no Tin when I go to put in request Tin it asks for other stuff I put this in but water grant says it doesnt match its records. I am assuming I didnt get a TIN number I cant remember cant get through to irish water grant place.

Would you mind providing the following details via PM and we can look into your query:

- Name;
- Address; and
- Contact Number.

Thanks in advance,
Niall

Tjcurley

Hi Naill,

Did you get a chance to look at the pm?
Thanks.

Irish Water: Niall wrote: »

Hi Tjcurley and grahammck,

Thank you for your queries.





We can certainly look into this matter would you mind sending the following details via PM:

- Name;
- Address; and
- Contact Number.

Thanks in advance,
Niall

Irish Water: Niall

Hi Tjcurely,

Tjcurley wrote: »

Hi Naill,

Did you get a chance to look at the pm?
Thanks.

I can confirm that we have received your query. We respond to queries in the order the are received and a member of our team will respond to your query shortly.

Kind regards,
Niall

Shelflife

No letter received from you yet so i cant register on line, I rang last week and was told to wait for the letter, when I tried to ring twice today I just get a we are busy message and then you hang up.

What do we do now ?

Irish Water: Aaron P

Shelflife wrote: »

No letter received from you yet so i cant register on line, I rang last week and was told to wait for the letter, when I tried to ring twice today I just get a we are busy message and then you hang up.

What do we do now ?

Hi Shelflife,

Thank you for getting in touch.

Can you please clarify which letter you are referring to? Is it the Water Conservation Grant letter from the Department of Social Protection containing your TIN?

Thanks in advance,
Aaron

Shelflife

Irish Water: Aaron wrote: »

Shelflife wrote: »

No letter received from you yet so i cant register on line, I rang last week and was told to wait for the letter, when I tried to ring twice today I just get a we are busy message and then you hang up.

What do we do now ?

Hi Shelflife,

Thank you for getting in touch.

Can you please clarify which letter you are referring to? Is it the Water Conservation Grant letter from the Department of Social Protection containing your TIN?

Thanks in advance,
Aaron

Yes 

Shelflife

It's OK I'm sorted .

grahammck

Hi

Did anyone on here get a confirmation from Irish Water when they registered other than the ref number on the final screen?

Thanks,

Graham

Ken.

Hi, My parents are massive technophobe's. I applied for the grant online for them. Done all the entering of details and got confirmation. All this was done on the 19th of September. They just asked me to ask when the €100 will hit the bank account as it hasn't yet?. 

Irish Water: Niall

Hi drahammck and ken,

Thank you for your queries.

grahammck wrote: »

Hi

Did anyone on here get a confirmation from Irish Water when they registered other than the ref number on the final screen?

Thanks,

Graham

Would you mind confirming if the reference number was for the registration of your details with Irish Water?

ken wrote: »

Hi, My parents are massive technophobe's. I applied for the grant online for them. Done all the entering of details and got confirmation. All this was done on the 19th of September. They just asked me to ask when the 100EUR will hit the bank account as it hasn't yet?.

We would advise contacting the Water Grant Support Team 0761 087 890 or 1890 100 043 as payment of this years grant would be the responsibility of the Department of Social Protection.

Kind regards,
Niall

Ken.

Thank you.