asked the Minister for Health if he will make a statement on the reported occurences of illnesses related to the Sellafield nuclear plant.
Written Answers. - Sellafield Nuclear Plant.
34.
There has been a number of allegations of an association of illnesses with discharges from the Sellafield plant.
In response to these reports, a study was initiated by my Department into the prevalence of Down's Syndrome births on the East coast. This study is well under way and an analysis of the results of it should be completed towards the end of the year. A related study has recently been commissioned in County Donegal in the light of a survey carried out by the North Western Health Board which suggested that there was a higher than average incidence of Down's Syndrome births in that county.
My Department, in consultation with the Department of Community Medicine and Epidemiology at UCD, has also set up a study into the incidence rates of childhood leukaemia to determine whether there is an increase in cases on the East coast. The report of this study is expected shortly.
My Department has also established liaison with Northern Ireland officials in relation to similar studies being carried out by them.
It would be premature to express an opinion about the specific allegations referred to until the results of the studies are available. However, I think my concern and the concern of all my colleagues in the Government in relation to the Sellafield emissions is well known and the matter of the early elimination of these discharges will continue to be pressed vigorously with the UK authorities.