Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Curran, for remaining in the House to respond to this matter. Will the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government consider the provision of a support scheme for households and families that have suffered as a result of lead contamination in the water supply in Galway city, arising from the existence of an outdated and defunct lead network system in the older sections of the city? Such a scheme will enable families to afford the cost of the replacement of the lead pipes between the public water mains, located at the boundary or gate of their house, and their kitchen sink. As many as 3,500 households may be affected by this problem, although officials in Galway City Council told me today that they do not expect the number to be that high. The households affected by this problem are located in Mervue, Shantalla, Claddagh, Salthill and the older sections of the city.

The obligation of a local authority is to provide water to the boundary of a house, that is, to the front or back gate, whichever is most convenient. Currently, it is a matter for householders to connect to the water supply at the boundary of their properties. I am making a case for a grant scheme to enable families to manage the financial cost of connecting the new safe water supply into their kitchen sink. There will be considerable cost involved in ripping up driveways or patios, depending on whether the connection is at the front or back entrance, replacing kitchen and hall floors and so on.

A grant scheme is not only essential but would also be a responsible move by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. It will enable families to avail of safe drinking water which meets the existing lead standard of 25 micrograms per litre, as set in 2004. Moreover, it will enable households, and the local authority, to meet the 2013 standard of 10 micrograms per litre, thereby achieving a national objective in water safety standards. Prior to 2004, the lead standard was 50 micrograms per litre, an indication that the standards are becoming increasingly stringent. The grant scheme I am proposing is for a specific, defined purpose and will meet the Department's own goals as well as meeting the needs of families in Galway city for safe drinking water. A safe water supply is a personal and public health issue as well as a resource for living.

There is already a precedent for grants such as the one I am proposing for specific defined purposes, such as the essential repairs grant of €6,000 to extend the useful life of the homes of elderly persons. I am pleased that the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has stated publicly on two occasions that money is not an obstacle to the provision of safe drinking water in Galway city. Against this background, I strongly encourage the Department to provide for this grant scheme in order to discourage householders from opting for temporary and less safe solutions. Temporary solutions such as filtration are much discussed in Galway at present. However, there are maintenance issues. With filtration there is evidence of the public water supply testing safe at the gate or the boundary of the property but being contaminated at the sink as a result of faulty, unmaintained filtration systems. It is not a permanent solution.

The solution I propose is permanent. It will serve the needs of the householders and families in Galway city and will meet the local authority's and, most importantly, the Department's obligations into the future under EU law. I look forward to the Minister's reply.