Mr. Seán Laffey:

Currently we are carrying out a lead replacement programme. There are parts of the country where we are shutting down backyard services and because we have no powers to enter readily onto somebody's private property and replace a lead connection we have been asking for permission. We have not been getting that permission in quite a number of places. We can only offer a service to remove the lead but we cannot physically go in and remove the lead from somebody's property.