Seán Kenny (Dublin North East, Labour)
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I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this matter relating to the removal of lead pipes from the water supply system. It has been stated that 42 public water supplies in Ireland tested in the latest Environmental Protection Agency inspections had lead levels that exceeded the safety thresholds that came into effect in December last year. Dublin city alone is known to have several thousand homes still with internal lead pipes, and that situation is replicated across the country. Ireland is not alone in this regard with having legacy issues of lead pipes, as the problem is also prevalent in England, Scotland and France.

Public health specialist Dr. Anthony Breslin has recently stated that the full impact of lead exposure was serious and could cause neurological disease. He urged householders with any doubts to have their pipes checked. He also indicated that public awareness about the dangers of lead was high when it started to be removed from paint and petrol but in the 20 to 30 years since, people may have become complacent about the presence of lead.

A constituent contacted me last week to express his concern and anxiety regarding what he described as a potentially lethal problem. He has a nine-year-old daughter and he is very worried that the lead in his water supply could cause her health issues in future. There is great concern in St. Anne's estate in Raheny in my constituency about the presence of lead pipes in the water supply network in this estate, comprising approximately 700 homes. St. Anne's estate was built by Dublin Corporation, as it was, and completed in 1954 as an estate to house families qualifying for a local authority loan to purchase a home. At that time, the people had to be either existing corporation tenants or corporation housing applicants to qualify for the loan. The design of the estate is similar to other Dublin Corporation estates of the period, and that design continued up to the 1970s. The current problem with lead water supply pipes is manifesting particularly in St. Anne's estate and it is a cause of concern to the residents.

I am told representatives of Irish Water are currently liaising with the Environmental Protection Agency to finalise a national strategy to address the issue of lead water pipes. Irish Water has also indicated that property owners are responsible for the water distribution on their own properties, including all domestic internal plumbing. In Scotland, for example, there are grants for private householders to replace pipes with plastic or other alternatives.

There are no grant incentive schemes here at present. A grant-aided scheme to remove harmful lead pipes from the drinking water infrastructure would provide jobs as well as eliminating a public health risk, which would be welcome. I call on the Minister to consider this strategy. It is now time to remove the lead.

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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I hope it is acceptable to Deputy Kenny that I am taking this Topical Issue matter on behalf of the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government who, I have explained to him, has been called away. I thank the Deputy for the opportunity to outline the position in regard to this matter.

With effect from 1 January 2014, Irish Water is responsible for public water services. Suppliers of drinking water are required to ensure that the water supplied complies with the chemical and microbiological parameters set out in the European Union (Drinking Water) Regulations 2014, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas Library. The maximum allowable value for lead is 10 microgrammes per litre, which limit came into effect on 25 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, where a potential risk to human health exists, with the Health Service Executive to ensure that 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 to develop local responses to issues which arise in particular locations.

Irish Water has informed the Department of the Environment , Community and Local Government that of its estimated 60,000 km distribution system, it has identified a very small proportion - approximately 2 km of water-mains - as possibly containing lead. As such, Irish Water has commenced a programme of verification and removal that will be completed in 2015. However, there are a significant number of lead 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 metering installation programme. It is currently identified that approximately 5% of houses are affected, but this 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. Irish Water has informed the Department that it intends to invest in public lead pipe replacement schemes, primarily communications pipes, with a view to eliminating lead mains, including shared backyard service connections, over the next ten years. This is probably the issue that most concerns the Deputy. Irish Water is also reviewing its water treatment processes to ensure they mitigate the risk in the short term.

The Water Services Act 2007 provides that the owner of a premises is responsible for the maintenance and renewal of the internal water distribution system. Responsibility for replacing lead pipes from the mains stopcock to a house and within the house rests, therefore, with the house owner. In a joint position paper on lead published by the EPA and HSE in 2013, it was recommended that all lead pipes and plumbing in public and private ownership should be replaced over time.

With regard to the proposal for a grants scheme, the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government is developing a national strategy for lead which it is discussing with the Department of Health, Irish Water, the HSE and the EPA to map the scale of the problem and identify measures to mitigate any risk posed to human health by lead in drinking water. I understand that the Government was informed at the Cabinet meeting this morning that the strategy will be completed and published in the next month. I hope this information is of some value to the Deputy.

Seán Kenny (Dublin North East, Labour)
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I thank the Minister of State for replying on behalf of the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. I take some comfort from the fact that the strategy being developed will be completed in one month. We hope there will be positive responses in that. I note the Minister of State saying there was a 60,000 km distribution system but that only 2 km of water mains comprises of lead pipes. She also said that backyard lead piping will be dealt with by Irish Water. She said there were between 30,000 and 40,000 houses in that situation. I must, however, express the concern my constituents feel on this matter. There have been a number of media articles on this problem. It has aroused concern in particular in regard to the effect it might have on children. I hope that when the strategy report is published those issues will be addressed and that people's fears will be allayed.

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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I thank the Deputy for his very useful comments. When we see the strategy next month, we will have a much clearer idea of what exactly we are talking about. The mapping process will be hugely important. It is at that point the Government's considered response will come to light. Where there is an immediate concern, Irish Water, the EPA and the HSE have assured us there will be localised action in relation to prioritised areas. This is where it is being dealt with on an area-by-area, job-by-job or location-by-location basis. In fact, the mapping exercise and the strategy being developed and published next month will be the key to how we deal with this.