John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)

The EPA's reports on the quality of drinking water set out compliance levels across a range of parametric values, including lead. The most recent report for the years 2006 and 2007 is available in the Oireachtas Library.

Management of public drinking water supplies to ensure compliance with water quality standards is the responsibility of each local authority. I have put in place a rigorous supervisory framework to ensure good quality drinking water is available, and effective mechanisms exist to deal quickly and effectively with problems where they arise. Under the European Communities (Drinking Water) (No. 2) Regulations 2007, local authority drinking water supplies are subject to supervision by the EPA. I have given the agency the necessary resources to back up its new enforcement powers.

Each local authority is legally required to ensure that any failure to meet quality standards in its water supplies is investigated immediately to determine the cause. The authority is also obliged to inform the EPA promptly and to consult with the Health Service Executive, HSE. Where incidences of contamination occur the EPA can issue such directions to the local authority as necessary to prevent or remove any health risk. Failure to comply with such a direction is an indictable offence and subject to heavy penalties.

I understand the EPA is liaising with the HSE and the relevant local authority in regard to all reported lead exceedances. Where exceedances have been reported, the EPA has requested the local authority, inter alia , to clarify the ownership and composition of the service pipe, provide details of the short-term and long-term measures to deal with the exceedance, provide details of advice from the HSE and clarify whether the owner of the premises has been given appropriate advice.

A record provision of €560 million, an increase of 19% over 2008, will be available for water services investment in 2009. This is the clearest possible statement by the Government of the priority given to ensuring that water and waste water treatment schemes comply with the highest standards.

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