asked the Taoiseach the reason the boat Lough Beltra is not in use at present and the surveys which will be carried out this year.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Survey Vessel.
5.
The annual refit of the Lough Beltra is more extensive this year, so that it will commence operations rather later than has hitherto been the case. Some unforeseen mechanical problems have also delayed further the vessel's commissioning. It is hoped that it will be fully operational in June.
It is planned to undertake surveys on the structure of coastal marine sediments, on the effects of sea dumping on the environment, on the interaction between the environment and those marine species which are the basis of food chains and on the determination of the best site for deploying a meteorological and oceanographic buoy.