Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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160. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a breakdown of the water infrastructure system on a county basis, in terms of the amount of the water system consists of lead piping and the amount which consists of asbestos piping; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43378/14]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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My Department does not compile statistical data on the amount of lead or asbestos piping in the water infrastructure system. 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.