Michael Noonan (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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Question 376: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will provide funding to Limerick City Council for the replacement of common lead services citywide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33413/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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An application was received last month from Limerick City Council for funding towards the cost of eliminating common lead services and my Department is examining this. Under Water Services legislation, the owner of a premises is responsible for ensuring that the internal water distribution system is sufficient to ensure that drinking water quality requirements are complied with.

In addition to replacing lead services, appropriate pH correction can be made at water treatments plants to ensure the water is not corrosive and to prevent lead from old pipes leaching into supply. The dosing of phosphates has also been recommended by the EPA to local authorities as a means of reducing plumbosolvency (ability of water to dissolve lead) as it has the further effect of sealing the lead within the connections.