New grant scheme to replace lead pipes

A grant scheme is being rolled out to help low-income households replace lead pipes in their homes.

Around 200 thousand homes across the country, most of which were built before the 1970s, have lead pipes for their water - which can cause health problems.

Bottle-fed babies are particularly vulnerable, as are pregnant women.

The data emerged from the water metering programme embarked on by Irish Water, but they are only responsible for pipes up to the boundary of a home.

Environment Minister Alan Kelly says there will be help for some households.

"From social housing stock, we will be heat-mapping old buildings and old social housing stock, Irish Water have already done a lot of work on this. We will be prioritising investment in those areas," said the Minister.

"As part of this strategy, we will be developing grants schemes for private housing to help people deal with what is very much a domestic issue for them."