John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)

I am confident that the record investment of €560 million, representing a year-on-year increase of 19%, in water services and infrastructure will allow us to make the necessary progress. The national development plan includes the objective of ensuring that "good quality drinking water is available to all consumers of public and group water supplies in compliance with national and EU drinking water standards, including any infrastructural improvements required to meet the 2013 parameter for the presence of lead in drinking water". Against the backdrop of the most difficult budgetary situation in decades, we have provided a record provision for water services and infrastructure. The Department is providing substantial funding of €288 million towards local authorities' water conservation programmes. It is open to each authority to prioritise any necessary pipe replacement works under these programmes in order to eliminate lead piping in the public water supply and deal with current and future lead standards.

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