Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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145. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a specific grant for homeowners who wish to replace the dangerous lead piping in their homes with safer modern alternatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27688/14]

Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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146. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide Irish Water with a grant to replace dangerous lead piping from the point of metering to the house; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27689/14]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 145 and 146 together.

The Water Services Act 2013 provided for the establishment of Irish Water as an independent subsidiary within the Bord Gáis Éireann Group and assigned the necessary powers to allow Irish Water to undertake the water metering programme. Under the European Communities (Drinking Water) Regulations 2014, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas library, suppliers of drinking water are required to ensure that the water supplied complies with the chemical and microbiological parameters set out in the Regulations. The maximum allowable value for lead is 10 microgrammes per litre. There is no requirement to replace lead pipes as part of the metering programme. However, Irish Water will be identifying the location of any lead service connections during the installation programme.

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 and shall ensure that it is kept in good order and repair, so as to prevent a risk to human health or the environment and that the water meets prescribed quality standards. Irish Water is responsible for replacing lead distribution mains and lead service pipes up to the stopcock. Responsibility for replacing lead pipes from the main stopcock to the house, and within the house, rests with the homeowner. The introduction of a grants scheme for any purpose must be managed within current budgetary constraints and, insofar as the funds administered by my Department are concerned, there are currently no plans to introduce a scheme for the replacement of lead piping within a household’s internal distribution system.