Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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315. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the number of estates still being supplied water through lead piping; if he will provide a breakdown by town within each county; when it is proposed that all lead piping will be replaced. [39015/14]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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Since 1 January 2014 Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. I have no responsibility for, or role in relation to, the management, operation or maintenance of water services infrastructure. Irish Water has informed my Department that of its estimated 58,000 kilometres of distribution system, there is a very small proportion of lead piping, consisting of approximately 190 short lengths across 14 local authorities. Irish Water is working to achieve the replacement of these pipes as quickly as possible.

However, there are a significant number of lead public service pipes between the water mains and the customer stopcock or water meter. Irish Water is identifying the location of such lead service connections during the meter installation programme. The numbers currently being identified represent about 5% of houses, but this is expected to be higher in town centre areas. Irish Water also estimates that there may be a further 30,000 to 40,000 houses with shared backyard lead service connections. Irish Water has informed my Department that it intends to invest in public lead pipe replacement schemes, primarily communications pipes, with a view to eliminating lead mains, including shared backyard service connections, over the next ten years. Irish Water is also reviewing its water treatment processes to ensure that they can mitigate the risk in the short term.

The Water Services Act 2007 provides that the owner of a premises is responsible for the maintenance of the internal water distribution system and should 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 has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. The team can be contacted via an email to or by telephone on 1890 278 278.