Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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232. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if the competent agencies and authorities responsible for water quality monitoring are routinely testing water samples for the presence of asbestos containing materials in public water supplies; his progress in identifying and replacing sections of the water supply network which have been found to contain asbestos cement piping; if he regards the presence of such materials as posing a particular danger to public health; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15327/16]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I have no direct role in the monitoring or supervision of water services. The European Union (Drinking Water) Regulations 2014 provide that it is a matter for water suppliers to provide clean and wholesome drinking water, in compliance with the standards set out in the Regulations.

With effect from 1 January 2014, Irish Water is responsible for the operation of water services infrastructure and for the provision of public drinking water. Under the Regulations, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is responsible for the supervision of Irish Water, in respect of public water supplies. Local authorities remain responsible for the supervision of private group water schemes. The procedures to be followed and the roles of water suppliers, the local authorities, the EPA and the Health Service Executive (HSE) where there is non-compliance with the parametric values set out in the Schedules to the Regulations, are clearly laid out in the Regulations.

Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. The team can be contacted via email to oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on a dedicated number, 1890 578 578.