94 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position regarding the installation of domestic water meters; the timescale for installation of meters; if the contract or contracts have been awarded or when same will be advertised; the way plumbers indicate or register their interest in being involved; if the Department is involved in training courses or has given their support to private training courses for non-plumbers and the reason this is deemed necessary with so many unemployed plumbers. [46799/10]

I refer to the reply to Question No. 279 of 7 December 2010, in regard to the installation of domestic water meters. My Department is not involved in, nor does it support, any private training courses for non-plumbers. However, together with the local authorities, FAS, and the National Federation of Group Water Schemes, my Department supports the Water Services Training Group which, through its five regional training centres, aims to provide training on the delivery of water services to a broad range of staff within the local authorities and in the private sector. Details of the training courses offered by the Group are available on its website www.wsntg.ie .