asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry if waste matter is presently dumped into tidal waters and/or the sea, if so in what quantities, and by whom.
Written Answers. - Waste Matter Dumping.
43.
(a) Approximately 110,000 metric tonnes of sewage sludge (approximately 5 per cent solids) is dumped each year by Dublin Corporation; (b) 6,000 gallons per day of organic sludges (approximately 5 per cent solids) arising from the treatment of whey-processing wastes is dumped by Wyeth (Ireland) Ltd. of Askeaton, County Limerick; (c) 800,000 gallons per day of waste mycelium (approximately 5 per cent solids) arising from fermentation processes is dumped by the Pfizer Chemical Corporation of Ringaskiddy, County Cork; (d) 1,100 cubic metres of dilute spent caustic soda (liquid) was dumped by the Irish Refining Co. Ltd. of Whitegate, County Cork in 1978. A further licence to dump a similar quantity in 1979 has been applied for; (e) a licence has been issued to William O'Brien (Plant Hire) Ltd. of Bishoptown, County Cork, to dispose of 180 tons of domestic septic tank waste and 250 tons of blood per month.
44.
asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry if waste matter is presently dumped inside or outside the three-mile limit.
(a) Dumping of sewage sludge by Dublin Corporation takes place inside the three-mile limit off Howth Head; (b) dumping of wastes by Wyeth (Ireland) Ltd. takes place inside the three-mile limit, in the Shannon Estuary downstream of Reeves Rock in at least ten fathoms of water; (c) dumping of wastes by the Pfizer Chemical Corporation takes place outside the three-mile limit, in an area at least nine-and-a-half miles from the nearest land (Reanies Head, County Cork) and over 12 miles from Roches Point; (d) dumping of wastes by the Irish Refining Co. Ltd. takes place outside the three-mile limit at a point approximately 35 miles due south of Hook Head, County Wexford (the nearest point of land); (e) dumping of wastes by William O'Brien (Plant Hire) Ltd. will take place outside the three-mile limit in an area adjacent to that used by the Pfizer Corporation.
45.
asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry the restrictions, if any, on the dumping of wastes at sea.
(a) dumping of sewage sludge by Dublin Corporation is permitted under the Local Government Board (Ireland) Provisional Order Confirmation (No. 10) Act (ccxvi of 1892); (b) other dumping at sea is licensed under the Fisheries (Consolidation) Act, 1959 (sections 171 and 172) as amended by the Fisheries (Amendment) Act, 1962; (c) Ireland is a signatory to the Oslo Convention (for the prevention of marine pollution by dumping from ships and aircraft) and the provisions of the convention are adhered to in the granting of licences.
46.
asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry by whom the site at which waste matter is dumped into tidal waters and/or sea is selected.
(a) the current sewage sludge dumping site was selected by the Dublin Corporation in consultation with the Dublin Port and Docks Board; (b) the selection of sites for waste disposal licensed under the Fisheries Acts is the responsibility of the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry.
47.
asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry the supervision or control, if any, kept over dumping waste matter into tidal waters and/or the sea, if so, by whom and the records, if any, kept.
(a) the dumping of sewage sludge is supervised by Dublin Corporation who keep records of quantities dumped and who carry out analyses of the dumped materials; (b) my Department supervise wastes disposed of under licence issued under the Fisheries Acts and keep records of quantities dumped. Analyses of constituents and monitoring programmes on dumping grounds are carried out.