Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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613. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will address a matter regarding the high lead content in a water supply (details supplied) in Dublin 5; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25006/15]

Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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614. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the reason those with high lead content in their water supply have to pay water charges (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25010/15]

Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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615. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the reason households earning more than €75,000 per annum do not receive any grant assistance towards the cost of replacing lead water pipes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25011/15]

Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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627. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 811 of 16 June 2015, his views on the discrepancy between his statement that the allowable level for lead was 10 micrograms per litre, with the information on the Health Service Executive website, which states that no level of lead in drinking water is now considered to be completely safe. [25142/15]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 613 to 615, inclusive, and 627 together.

With effect from 1 January 2014, Irish Water is responsible for public water services. Under the European Union (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 Regulations implement the EU Drinking Water Directive in Ireland . The maximum allowable value for lead is 10 microgrammes per litre, which came into effect on 25 December 2013.

In a joint position paper on lead published by the EPA and HSE in 2013, it is recommended that all lead pipes and plumbing in public and private ownership should be replaced over time. 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. Responsibility for replacing lead pipes from the property boundary to the house and within the house therefore rests with the homeowner. The position paper acknowledges that while, in its Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality (2011), the World Health Organisation (WHO) considered that while there is no tolerable threshold dose for lead in drinking water, the WHO also recommended that a guideline value of 10 microgrammes per litre was acceptable.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the supervisory authority with responsibility for monitoring Irish Water’s compliance with the Drinking Water Regulations. In the event of non-compliance with the quality standards set out in the Regulations, the water supplier is required to investigate the cause in consultation with the EPA and, if a potential risk to human health exists, with the Health Service Executive (HSE), to ensure that the appropriate remedial actions are taken, including the issue of notifications to consumers affected and, if appropriate, restriction of the supply. A case by case approach will be considered by Irish Water, in line with its statutory responsibilities and in recognition of the statutory responsibilities of the HSE and the EPA. I have no role in the monitoring or supervision of water services and, a s the proper procedures are being followed in relation to this matter, it would be inappropriate for me to interfere with the process by meeting with residents of St. Anne’s at this time. A comprehensive reply to a letter received from the chairperson of the residents committee of Saint Anne’s Estate, Raheny was issued by my Department in February 2015 in relation to these matters.

The Water Charges Policy Direction issued to the Commission for Energy Regulation in July 2014 referred to a number of matters relating to domestic water charges, including where the quality of water services provided by Irish Water to customers is impaired or where services are reduced or restricted. Where a customer is subject to a drinking water restriction notice, affected customers will receive a 100% discount to the water supply portion of their bill for the duration of the restriction. I understand that lead exceedances in the Raheny area have been reported to the EPA arising from samples taken at individual private dwellings. The EPA has indicated to my Department that, in each case, its investigations have concluded that the appropriate actions were taken and advice was given to the householders concerned. However, no water restriction under the Drinking Water Regulations has been issued to residents of the area in question.

Earlier this month I announced a National Strategy to reduce exposure to lead in drinking water which has been approved by the Government. The Strategy was prepared by my Department and the Department of Health in consultation with Irish Water, the HSE and the EPA. As part of the Strategy I will be establishing a new grant scheme to assist with the replacement of lead pipes in homes. Funding for the scheme will be finalised in the context of Budget 2016. It is envisaged that the grant scheme will be administered by local authorities and that the available resources will be prioritised to areas of highest risk. It will be important to ensure that the limited financial resources available are targeted where needed most, particularly to householders on lower incomes. Income thresholds will therefore apply.

The terms and conditions of the scheme will be publicised as soon as they are finalised. Householders who do not meet the eligibility criteria for the new scheme may qualify for relief under the Home Renovation Incentive (HRI) Scheme introduced under Section 5 of the Finance (No. 2) Act 2013. The HRI scheme covers main residence repairs, renovations and improvements, including plumbing works . The scheme is administered by the Revenue Commissioners and full details are published on Revenue’s website at:

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