Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputies for the opportunity to outline the position on the matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Kelly.

With effect from 1 January 2014, Irish Water has been responsible for public water services. Under the European Union (Drinking Water) Regulation 2014, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas Library, suppliers of drinking water are required to ensure that the water supplied complies with the chemical and microbiological parameters set out in the regulations. The maximum allowable value for lead is 10 micrograms per litre, which came into effect in December 2013.

The Environmental Protection Agency is the supervisory authority with responsibility for monitoring Irish Water's compliance with the drinking water regulations. In the event of non-compliance with the quality standards set out in the regulations, the water supplier will investigate the cause in consultation with the EPA and, if a potential risk to human health exists, with the Health Service Executive, to ensure that the appropriate remedial action is taken. A case-by-case approach will be considered by Irish Water, in line with its statutory responsibilities and in recognition of the statutory responsibilities of the HSE and the EPA.

I understand that lead exceedances in the Dublin Bay North constituency have been reported to the EPA arising from samples taken at individual private dwellings. The EPA has indicated to my Department that in each case its investigations have concluded that the appropriate actions were taken and advice was given to the householders concerned. No water restriction has issued under the drinking water regulations to consumers in either of the areas in question.

Irish Water has informed my Department that, having over recent months replaced the approximately 2 km of water mains which contained lead, no part of its estimated 60,000 km of distribution system now contains lead. However, there are a significant number of lead public service pipes between the water mains and the customer stopcock or water meter. Irish Water is identifying the location of such lead service connections during the meter installation programme.

The number of houses currently identified as affected stands at 5%, but this figure is expected to be higher in town centre areas. Irish Water also estimates that there may be a further 30,000 to 40,000 houses with shared lead backyard service connections and it has informed my Department that it intends to invest in public lead pipe replacement schemes, primarily service pipes, including shared backyard service connections, over the next ten years. Irish Water is also reviewing its water treatment processes to ensure it can mitigate the risk in the short term. In line with the provisions of the Water Services Act 2007, responsibility for the maintenance and replacement of the water mains and public side service pipes to the boundary of the property lies with Irish Water or the water supplier, while the owner of a premises is responsible for the maintenance from the boundary, including the internal plumbing.

Last week, the Government approved a national strategy to reduce exposure to lead in drinking water. The strategy was prepared by my Department in consultation with the Department of Health, Irish Water, the HSE and the EPA to assess the scale of the problem and identify measures to mitigate any risks to human health posed by lead in drinking water. Following consultation with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, the Minister, Deputy Kelly, will announce details of a grant scheme to assist low-income households with the replacement of lead pipes in their homes and he expects that householders will be able to avail of grants later this year.

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