Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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15. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he has received any assessment from Irish Water in relation to the presence of asbestos pipes in the water infrastructure; and his views on whether asbestos water pipes pose a health threat to those being provided with water through them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3647/15]

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 including the delivery of water services capital infrastructure. I have not received any assessment from Irish Water specifically in relation to the presence of asbestos pipes in the water infrastructure.

Asbestos cement piping formerly used in local authority water mains was required to meet certain specifications including bitumen lining and coating. The main health risk associated with asbestos products relates to inhalation of airborne asbestos particles. The potential exposure to such risk led to the decline in the use of asbestos materials generally. With the availability of more robust materials, asbestos cement piping is no longer used in Ireland for new public water mains or sewer pipes.

The World Health Organisation's position on asbestos in drinking water is that there is no consistent evidence that ingested asbestos is hazardous to health and that there is no need to establish a health-based guideline value for asbestos in drinking water.