Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

399. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the way in which his Department plans to act on its responsibility regarding a healthy weight for all in respect of the provision of potable water in all learning centres; the way in which schools can apply for potable water aside from the emergency works scheme as none of the 12 categories under emergency works covers this area; if his Department has had contact with school authorities regarding same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38127/17]

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

400. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 302 of 13 July 2017, if he will undertake a national audit of all learning centres, especially for persons under 18 years of age, in respect of the availability of potable water, in view of the fact that his Department's attention has not been drawn to schools in which there is no access to a drinking water supply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38128/17]

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

401. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will report on discussions with the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, the Department of Health and the Environmental Protection Agency with a view to the implementation of the national strategy to reduce exposure to lead in drinking water, which involves the development of a national testing strategy and subsequent remediation programme; the timeframe for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38129/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 399 to 401, inclusive, together.

I can confirm that remediation for tap drinking water supplies is covered by my Department's Emergency Works Grant Scheme under the "mechanical" category.  Mechanical components of a building incorporate, among other things, all water systems, including tap drinking water supply.  It is also open to schools to apply for remediation works under my Department's Summer Works Scheme which, likewise, has a "mechanical" category.  Primary schools receive a minor works grant too which they can use for this purpose if they so wish.

In addition, drinking water systems are automatically included in new school buildings and extension projects.  My Department has dedicated guidelines for Design Teams setting out the standards to be implemented for these construction projects and for all remediation projects.  

Officials in my Department continue to engage with the National Strategy to reduce exposure to lead in drinking water in public buildings.  This will ultimately lead to an approach for addressing this issue in schools.  I have no plans to introduce an audit ahead of this.  It will remain the position, however, that individual schools can apply to my Department for financial assistance to address their own particular tap drinking water issues, as has always been the case, or primary schools can use their minor works grant to deal with any such issues.