asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries is he aware that a large number of species of fish have been poisoned by pollution in the river Tolka; if he will investigate the causes of the pollution; and if he will state the action he intends taking in the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - River Tolka Pollution.
26.
I am aware of some recent fish kills in the river Tolka from the Dublin Board of Conservators. That board, which are responsible by statute for the protection of fish-bearing waters in their area including the Tolka are investigating the matter fully. The taking of such action as may be warranted by the evidence will be a matter for the Dublin board.
I raised this matter last week and I was informed that the matter would be dealt with as a matter of urgency. The Parliamentary Secretary now says that the matter is still under investigation. Can the Parliamentary Secretary say when there will be an end to the investigations in relation to this act of pollution in the river Tolka?
Might I ask the Parliamentary Secretary about the promise which I understood he gave in this House in relation to the River Swilly——
This is a different matter altogether. We are dealing with the River Tolka.
Not quite.
This question relates to the River Tolka.
It should be the same for all. Will the Minister, in respect of the Tolka, give the same promises as he gave in respect of the River Swilly? Since it was held that the board may not be the best people to report on this matter, it was agreed in the case of the River Swilly to provide some independent person to deal with the matter. Will the Minister do the same for the River Tolka? Has he gone back on his promise in regard to the River Swilly?
This question relates to the River Tolka. The Dublin Board are statutorily responsible for its protection. My information from the Dublin board is that on 24th June juvenile vandals damaged a drum of diesel oil near the bank, thereby allowing the oil into the river, where it was set alight. Secondly, during the weekend of the 6th July, pollution, the exact nature of which could not be definitely established but was thought to consist of some oily or greasy substance, was put into the river. The Dublin Board are investigating both items and the extent of their investigations would not warrant a prosecution so far. The investigations are not concluded. That is the information I have here from the Dublin Board.
The 24th of June was apparently the first instance and the 6th of July was the second, which is almost a month ago. How long more do we have to wait for the board to submit a report on this? Have they found out the cause of the actual pollution? The Parliamentary Secretary has told us that in the first case vandals broke an oil drum into the river.
Some offences of a more serious nature than the offences set down here were never solved. I am assuming from the evidence at my disposal that the board are doing their utmost to bring the vandals to justice but so far have failed. In the case of the oily substance the board are not in a position to go ahead with a prosecution because of the insufficiency of the information at their disposal as to what actually was the cause of the complaint.
Could the Parliamentary Secretary say if the board have had any consultation with Dublin Corporation? In answer to a similar question last week the Minister for Local Government informed me that Dublin Corporation were studying this matter.
I think it would be reasonable to assume that the board would have consultations with Dublin Corporation. As I understand it, and from the information at my disposal submitted by the board, they are doing everything in their power on this question. I agree that pollution in Dublin, never mind polluting the river through vandalism, is a very important matter. So far as the Department and the board are concerned we will try to ease the position in any way we possibly can.
Do I take it that the Parliamentary Secretary is satisfied that the board's methods of investigation for this and all over rivers are satisfactory?
I am not satisfied.