Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Coffey, for his presence here to deal with this issue. Like many of my constituents in Dublin Bay North, I have major concerns about the presence of lead in the water supply. Many of those people are concerned about the negative health effects of lead in the water, in particular that the consumption of lead can affect brain development in young children. Babies in the womb are most at risk according to the HSE and the Environmental Protection Agency. It is an issue that is being raised frequently on the doorsteps in Dublin Bay North.

We know that lead was predominantly used in service connections to buildings and in internal plumbing up to the 1970s. The maximum allowable limit which was 50 micrograms per litre in 2003 was reduced to 10 micrograms per litre in December 2013. It is very unfair that we are asking householders to pay water charges when they are getting the advice that their water is not fit for consumption and they are advised to run their taps for a considerable length of time to flush out their supply before consumption. The Government needs to consider this when it comes to charging people who find themselves in this unfortunate situation.

Some households in Raheny and Clontarf in particular have lead levels far in excess of the EU limit. In one house on Watermill Drive it was measured at 825 micrograms per litre which was massively over the limit of 10 micrograms per litre. People are rightly concerned about their and their children's health. They want the matter addressed urgently by Government. The residents' committee in St Anne's estate in Dublin Bay North has contacted the Minister to seek a meeting. It is doing everything to help the local residents. The Minister might see it fit to meet those residents who seem to have the highest level of lead in their water supply.

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