Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael)
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I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy James Browne. I call Senator Boyhan to elaborate and to properly pronounce that scientific term.

Victor Boyhan (Independent)
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I can tell the Leas-Chathaoirleach that I have broken it up phonetically for myself as tri-halo-methane. Trihalomethane is the issue before us today. This matter is the result of an engagement with the National Federation of Group Water Schemes, with which the Leas-Chathaoirleach will be very familiar, as we all are. I want to put on the record our thanks to that organisation for the amazing work they do in their communities on the management of quality water.

I am very keen to hear from the Minister of State regarding the ongoing engagement between the European Commission and the Department on trihalomethanes and the issues around this. I understand there continues to be ongoing correspondence between the Commission and the Department in respect of Ireland's failure to address trihalomethanes in several public and private water supplies. I also understand that the Commission has indicated to Ireland its intention to escalate this case further, which may result in possible fines for the Government. The National Federation of Group Water Schemes has urged every group water scheme impacted at this stage to engage with their local authorities and to seek best advice and best practice.

It is important that we have a balanced discussion. The key message is that the use of chlorine to ensure safe drinking water is important and necessary. Trihalomethanes are formed as a result of adding chlorine to water, although the chlorine is essential to ensure the quality of our drinking water. Most drinking water in Ireland comes from surface water sources such as rivers, lakes and streams and it has to be treated because there is vegetative matter getting into the water streams. As I said, most drinking water is treated with chlorine, which kills the bacteria and viruses commonly found in drinking water by disinfecting it.

I will use the term THM for trihalomethane. I went on the HSE website today. It states:

THMs can be ingested (swallowed), if present in water.

THMs may be inhaled (breathed in), if present in air, as most THMs in water evaporate.

THMs can be inhaled or absorbed though the skin while showering or bathing.

On the question "How can THMs affect my health?", the HSE website states:

Some studies suggest a link between long term exposure to THMs ... and cancer and reproductive effects but the evidence is not conclusive.

THMs are classified as ‘possibly carcinogenic’ to humans...

There is some evidence that THMs cause cancer in animals.

Some studies suggest that very long-term exposure [to] THMs may be linked to ... increased risk of some types of cancer in humans, in particular bladder and colon cancer. The evidence however, is not conclusive.

On the question "What can I do to reduce my exposure to THMs?" the website deals with that in great detail.

We have three organisations responsible for water, namely, Irish Water, the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, which has a serious role in monitoring the quality of water, and the National Federation of Group Water Schemes. I do not want to be alarmist but there is an issue in this regard. At the kernel of this is the European Commission, which has raised concerns with the Government and the Department. I would like to hear how that is going and what the Minister of State’s knowledge is of these concerns.

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I thank Senator Boyhan for raising the important issue of trihalomethanes, THMs, in our public water supplies, which gives me an opportunity to give an overview of the work being undertaken to improve the quality and resilience of our public and private water supplies.

The programme for Government sets out clear and ambitious commitments to ensure that Irish Water accelerates the resolution of schemes on the remedial action list of the Environmental Protection Authority, EPA, including that the formation of THMs is minimised. We are also continuing to invest in a multi-annual capital funding programme to improve the quality of drinking water in community owned and run rural group water schemes.

For public water supplies, the Senator will appreciate that since 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local level. The maintenance and remedial work necessary in our water system is ongoing and being actively pursued. It is likely that it will take a number of years and investment cycles to fully resolve all the issues and risks and address the pressures of an increasing population and a changing climate. In response, the Government is providing substantial funding to Irish Water to fulfil its role and has committed to an ambitious, multi-annual funding plan. The Government is delivering on the €8.5 billion funding package committed to in Project Ireland 2040.

Irish Water has completed large and complex projects such as a new water treatment plant at Vartry and a full upgrade of the Leixlip water treatment plant. These two projects alone improved water quality and supply resilience for 717,000 people. Irish Water is taking action to remove the risk of elevated levels of THMs forming in all public water supplies. At the end of 2016, there were 71 supplies on the EPA's remedial action list for THMs, impacting 464,791 customers. As of 30 September 2022, there were 24 supplies serving 243,137 people on the remedial action list for THMs.

For private group water schemes, each local authority acts as the supervisory authority for its own functional area under the drinking water regulations and is supervised in this role by the EPA. Each group water scheme is community owned and run. The Department is working directly with local authorities to resolve remaining issues with private group water schemes that have THM issues or risks. The adoption of effective measures to ensure compliance with the directive requires local authority liaison and co-operation with the management and members of these schemes.

Victor Boyhan (Independent)
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I appreciate the Minister of State's detailed and comprehensive reply, which confirms that the European Commission has been raising these issues since 2014 which is a long time ago. It also confirms that there was an issue with approximately 70 water supply zones. Correspondence from the Commission issued to the Government in November 2021 indicates that it believes the drinking water directive has been breached in 30 water supply zones. Would it be possible to publicly identify those 30 water supply zones? It is important for the people who are drinking that water to know that issues relating to it are being contested between the Irish Government and the EU.

The Minister of State has shed some light on the matter and given us some detail, which is very helpful. He has given us facts, which are very important in the context of our water supply, public health and transparency. Clearly, the Government is going to contest the Commission's findings and I ask that the Department keep us informed in that regard. Again, I thank the Minister of State for shedding some light on this matter and sharing some of the facts of this case.

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I highlight the fact that solutions typically consist of water treatment plant upgrades, a new connection or water schemes being taken in charge by Irish Water. The works to resolve the water quality issue are being funded under the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage's multi-annual rural water programme.

As the Senator said, the European Commission first raised the issue of THM compliance in Ireland back in 2014. At that time, the Commission had concerns regarding 73 public water supplies and 24 private group water schemes. The Commission has publicly recognised that Ireland has made progress in addressing elevated levels of THMs in drinking water. However, in November 2021, the Commission referred Ireland to the Court of Justice of the European Union for failure to comply with the requirements of the drinking water directive. In the referral, the Commission alleges that the level of THMs in drinking water has exceeded the parametric value established by the drinking water directive in 30 water supply zones, although this figure will be contested by Ireland during the case. Ireland is currently finalising its defence to the case, with the assistance and advice of the Office of the Attorney General, and this will be submitted to the court at the end of October.

For the Senator's information, the EPA publishes its full remedial action list on its website atwww.epa.ie. This list provides a comprehensive picture of public water supply compliance and risk on an ongoing basis. The EPA also publishes all of its audit results on its website.

Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State for his response and thank Senator Boyhan for raising the matter. It is a particular pleasure to welcome Toby to the Visitors Gallery. He is on work experience with the Minister of State, Deputy James Browne, this week. I wish you a good week. It is good to have you here and you are certainly in a very good university with the Minister of State.