DUBLIN: Tens of thousands of families will be saddled with bills of more than €5,000 after the Government admitted the country’s lead crisis is far more severe than previously feared.
Some 200,000 homes, as well as an unknown number of schools, hospitals, creches, prisons and nursing homes, are plumbed using lead piping that poses a health risk to occupants and particularly the very young.
The alarming figures prompted a senior HSE official to warn women against bottle feeding their children.
Environment Minister Alan Kelly now wants to roll out a grant scheme by the end of the summer aimed at providing assistance to low-income households forced to replace lead plumbing in their homes.
The move comes despite the Government insisting as recently as last September that none would be introduced.
Government sources also admitted last night that although the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) has been warning about lead levels for years, the extent of the problem in public buildings is still unknown.
The HSE, Department of Education and other public bodies have now been ordered to audit their buildings and identify any issues.
Irish Water has started writing to 28,000 homes warning of a potential problem, after lead piping was discovered during the installation of meters.
As many as 200,000 are suspected of having a problem.
The Government has been strongly criticised for waiting years before tackling the crisis, despite repeated warnings about the dangers of lead.
Lead pipes may have been used in mains connections and inside plumbing in properties built up to and including the 1970s. In the 1970s alone, some 167,230 homes were built.
The HSE was also dragged into the controversy after claiming that families affected should consider only breastfeeding their children.
