asked the Minister for the Environment (a) if he has any function in regard to prescribing or supervising standards for the manufacture or supply of cylinders for domestic water heating; (b) if he is aware of the very frequent complaints of late in regard to the defective manufacture of such cylinders; and (c) if he will ensure, if necessary, seeking the legal power so that proper standards are prescribed and enforced in this matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Domestic Water Heating Cylinders.
15.
I have no function in regard to prescribing or supervising standards for the manufacture or supply of cylinders for domestic water heating. This is a matter within the aegis of the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy.
I am aware that there have been complaints about failures of cylinders fitted in houses in certain areas. It has been alleged in some cases that the nature of the public water supply in these areas contributed to the failures.
Since 1 September 1975, all copper hot water cylinders used in local authority or grant-aided housing and manufactured in the State are required to bear the appropriate standard mark of the Institute for Industrial Research and Standards, signifying that they conform to the requirements of Irish Standard 161: 1975. Where imported cylinders are used they must conform to the requirements of Irish Standard 161: 1975 or to an equivalent standard prescribed by the appropriate authority of a member state of the European Communities. I might add that Dublin Corporation regulations, made under Dublin Corporation Waterworks Acts for the purpose of preventing the waste, undue consumption, misuse or contamination of the domestic water supply, lay down similar requirements for hot water cylinders installed in their area.
In the major part of his reply, is the Minister dealing only with local authority and grant-aided housing, not private housing?
That is right.
Would the Minister not agree that even in grant-aided houses there have been very frequent complaints in the last year or so in particular about the quality of the cylinders being installed, many of which have burst or leaked, so that they had to be replaced within a year of installation? Has the Minister heard that there has been a spate of such complaints?
The cylinders are required to bear the appropriate standard mark of the Institute for Industrial Research and Standards.
I do not care if they have a hundred marks on them. Has the Minister not heard that there has been a spate of such complaints in the last year?
I do not know the number of complaints but the cylinders are required to bear the standard mark of the IIRS.
It is like trying to find an eel under a stone. Would the Minister tell the House whether he is aware that there has been a spate of complaints in the last year or so? Yes or no.
There have been complaints?
An unusual spate of complaints?
There have been complaints, particularly this winter.
No, we will not blame the winter for it. This happened summer and winter. In view of that, would the Minister not consider that the stamp of standard affixed to these cylinders means little or nothing and that it is time we made sure the standard means something.
I am not aware that a number of the cylinders which bore that stamp burst or leaked. Does the Deputy mean that even though they bore that stamp this still happened?
Yes.
In view of the many complaints about the cylinders bearing the appropriate standard stamp, will the Minister have the merit of that standard examined?
If they do not stand up to the real test of use, they should be reexamined. I am prepared to look into this.
Does the Minister not realise that the ordinary householder does not have redress against the Institute for Industrial Research and Standards, the local authority or anybody, except the people who supply them, who will not warrant the condition of the cylinders they instal?
If these cylinders do not stand up to use, I must devise a new means to ensure that they will meet the required standards.
Will the Minister investigate this system whereby the quality controls are established? Will he further undertake to ensure that these quality controls are adequate having regard to the kind of water coming into the tanks and the techniques used in manufacture?
I will undertake to have that done.