Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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147. To ask the Minister for Health if it is safe for the residents in an area (details supplied) in County Kerry to drink and use their water in view of concerns that there is an unacceptable amount of lead in the water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42439/14]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government is responsible for policy and legislation in relation to drinking water quality. Since 1 January 2014 Irish Water has statutory responsibility for the provision of safe and secure public drinking water services.

The European Union (Drinking Water) Regulations 2014 requires that where Irish Water or a local authority, having consulted with and subject to the agreement of the Health Service Executive, consider a supply of water intended for human consumption constitutes a potential danger to human health they must ensure that appropriate restrictions are put in place, that consumers are given necessary advice and that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is informed.

The legal limit of lead in drinking water in Europe is 10 micrograms per litre. Irish Water and Kerry County Council have taken samples of drinking water from a number of houses in the estate referred to by the Deputy. Irish Water has written to these householders advising them of the results and also advising that where these results, after flushing, were above the legal limit, safe drinking water from some other source should be used. This advice is particularly important for bottle-fed infants, pregnant women and young children.

Irish Water has indicated to the HSE that it does not have sufficient information to make a decision as to whether the water supply in the estate has lead levels that exceed the permitted limits. The HSE has informed me that Irish Water proposes to undertake further representative sampling to determine the extent of the lead levels across the estate. The HSE has advised Irish Water that these tests should be carried out as soon as possible.  

I am informed that Irish Water has consulted the HSE in relation to the results from samples taken to date in this estate. In accordance with the EPA/HSE Joint Position Paper on Lead, the HSE has advised Irish Water, as follows:-

- As running the water from the cold tap in the kitchen sink (i.e. flushing) before using it for drinking or cooking may lower the level of lead, Irish Water should advise on appropriate flushing, testing and retesting to see if this works.

- If after flushing and retesting the level of lead stays above 10 micrograms per litre, consumers should be advised to use safe drinking water from some other source. This is particularly important for bottle-fed infants, young children and pregnant women.