Lead in water pipes
Deputy Burton raised public concern about high lead levels in water pipes in Dublin and elsewhere, especially the risk to babies. The Minister said metering improves knowledge of the system and helps identify the worst-affected areas, while major replacement work has already been done.
I have been very shocked to read the recent reports about concentrations of lead in water pipes, particularly on the north side of Dublin city, in Cabra, Drumcondra and Phibsborough. There are similar reports in five or six other locations right around the country. The information was published in response to a freedom of information request. Many very worried people have made contact with me asking what the Government is doing to reduce this danger to their health. High concentrations of lead in water have a particularly serious effect on the health of babies, whether young or in utero. This can also cause kidney and high blood pressure problems and exposure can also affect the general brain development of children. There has also been a suggestion of some kind of test to put plastic lining-----
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-----in lead pipes rather than removing them. Will the Minister clarify what is going on here?
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I thank the Deputy for her question. It is a very serious issue. Part of the rationale behind the metering programme that Irish Water has developed, although people tended to focus on the water charges aspect of it, is that it gives us much better intelligence on our water system. We saw the benefit of this during the drought over the summer. The further roll-out of metering will allow us to identify the most seriously affected areas. This mainly affects pre-1980s houses. A huge amount has already been invested in the public water system since then to replace public lead pipes. About another 180,000 homes are on public supplies using a type of lead pipe which needs to be replaced at a cost of about €370 million. This money has been provided and is being invested. We also have a grant scheme for individual households where the lead pipes might be in private property. Such households can use this grant scheme to remediate their own homes. Recent reports, as well as commentary from the EPA, have suggested that this grant scheme was perhaps not being taken up as proactively as possible. We are therefore working to see how we can ensure that people replace pipes on their private property. They can test the water very easily. As for the public side, we have the investment committed.