andMr. Harte asked the Minister for Energy if he will publicise the findings of the nuclear board on the test borings carried out in the Fintown area of County Donegal and if he has satisfied himself that there is no health hazard.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Fintown (County Donegal) Test Borings.
11.
The Nuclear Energy Board has been carrying out measurements of any radioactive content in air, soil and water in the Fintown area of County Donegal where drilling and other mineral prospecting work by a prospecting company has been proceeding. Completion of the board's studies involves laboratory analysis and this work will not be finished for some time. According as the results of the board's studies become available they will be communicated to interested parties and if necessary discussed with them.
The interested parties in this context include not only the relevant public bodies in the region but other local interests who have been concerned about uranium prospecting in the area. The results of the board's work and analysis will therefore be made public in the most appropriate way.
As I informed the Deputies in reply to a recent question, the Nuclear Energy Board has advised me that there is no evidence that prospecting operations will lead to any radiation hazard. Nevertheless, so as to provide further reassurance at local level, the board initiated the studies specified. The preliminary results available from these studies are in accordance with the board's advice. I have no reason to believe that when all the data and analyses are available the results will not provide further confirmation that prospecting operations do not constitute a radiation hazard.