Michael Lowry (Tipperary North, Independent)
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1107. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he is aware of a large number of houses in County Tipperary with possible lead piping and the potential cost of removing lead piping from these homes; the number of homes in County Tipperary which Irish Water, suspects to have lead piping, has confirmed contain lead piping, in tabular form; when the grant for homeowners affected with lead piping will be launched; the proposed income thresholds for such a grant; the proposed monetary amounts which will be made available to applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38274/15]

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. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the supervisory authority for public water supplies. The procedures to be followed where there is non-compliance with the parametric value for lead of 10 microgrammes per litre, and the roles of the water supplier, the EPA and the Health Services Executive (HSE), are set out in the European Union (Drinking Water) Regulations 2014, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas Library.

I have no role in monitoring implementation of the Regulations. However, I understand that Irish Water is in the process of advising its customers where the presence of lead pipes on the customer side, which may result in exceedances of the statutory limit, has been identified as part of its ongoing domestic metering programme. Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. The team can be contacted via email to or by telephone on a dedicated number, 1890 578 578.

On 9 June 2015, I announced a Government-approved National Strategy to reduce exposure to lead in drinking water. The Strategy was prepared by my Department and the Department of Health in consultation with Irish Water, the HSE and the EPA, in order to map the scale of the problem and identify measures to mitigate any risks to human health posed by lead in drinking water. As part of the Strategy, I will be establishing a new grant-aid scheme to assist low income households to replace lead pipes in their homes.

It is envisaged that the scheme will be administered by the local authorities and that income thresholds and other eligibility criteria will apply. The terms and conditions of the new scheme, including the eligibility criteria, will be publicised as soon as they are finalised.