Noel O'Flynn (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 437: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the steps his Department will take to replace lead water pipes in housing estates in which the lead contamination is higher than the acceptable allowable limit; and if grants are available to local authorities and private households to replace lead pipes with PVC pipes. [46556/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Management of the public drinking water supply infrastructure is the responsibility of the relevant local authority. I have put in place a rigorous supervisory framework to ensure that good quality drinking water is available to the public and that effective mechanisms exist to deal quickly and effectively with any problems which may arise. Under the European Communities (Drinking Water) (No. 2) Regulations, 2007, local authority drinking water supplies are subject to supervision by the EPA and I have given the Agency the necessary resources to back up its new enforcement powers.

Substantial funding towards local authorities' water conservation programmes, including replacement of old pipework, is being provided under my Department's Water Services Investment Programme. In this context it is open to each authority to prioritise any necessary pipe replacement in its own area.

In relation to individual service connections and internal plumbing, water services legislation provides that the owner of a premises is responsible for ensuring that the internal water distribution system is capable of delivering drinking water that complies with drinking water standards. My Department's Water Services Investment Programme does not extend to funding or providing grants for replacement of individual services connections or other measures relating to single households.