asked the Minister for the Marine the number of pollution officers employed by the central and regional fisheries boards; if he will outline the functions and responsibilities of the officers; the measures, if any, which are being taken to ensure that the officers have sufficient back-up resources, especially in relation to transport, to allow them to do their jobs; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Pollution Officers.
3.
The central and regional fisheries boards employ a total of ten water pollution officers. The duties and responsibilities of these staff is set out in the staff scheme for field grades in the boards and I will arrange for a copy of the staff scheme to be sent to the Deputy.
I should mention that, in addition to the water pollution officers, the boards employ a further 199 people in the grades of inspector, assistant inspector and fishery officers whose duties also include pollution detection, water sampling and the gathering of other relevant evidence on water pollution.
Resources are allocated by my Department to the fishery boards to meet the cost of their overall functions. It is a matter for the individual board to allocate funds for individual functions such as water pollution control in their regions.
I am sure the Minister is aware that it has been estimated that 115 rivers have been polluted in recent times, and that only 130 prosecutions have arisen out of 6,000 investigations of pollution problems. Can the Minister indicate if he intends to provide stronger powers and more resources to the staff in order to ensure that polluters do not get away with polluting, because unless we do that, we will be on the road to wiping out any possibility of having an inland fishing industry for tourism or home use?
I am fully aware of the Deputy's views in relation to the very high incidence of water pollution and the fish kills we have seen this summer. I have indicated already that it is my intention to bring before the Government at an early stage, and before this House, legislation which, as far as the fishery boards are concerned, will provide increased penalties, longer prison sentences and power for the boards to seek compensation through the courts where pollution has taken place and fish have been killed, and to rehabilitate the fisheries in respect of such damage. It is my intention to press ahead with this legislation and to have it in operation for the 1988 season.
Is the Minister in a position to indicate which fisheries boards have communicated to him the lack of resources, particularly in relation to transport and scientific back-up, which resources they feel they need to execute their tasks properly?
The primary responsibility for water pollution rests with the Minister for the Environment. Deputies will be aware that a sub-committee of Ministers including myself, the Minister for Tourism and Transport and the Minister for Agriculture and Food, under the chairmanship of the Minister for the Environment, have been looking at a number of initiatives which it is proposed to take to deal with the situation. There have always been complaints from fisheries boards about lack of finances to deal with various problems but each and every Deputy knows that there is a limit on finances at present. In addition to lack of finance, the boards are hampered by the lack of other resources and a response is required in a number of areas.
In view of the Minister's response, I would like his view on whether ten such officers are sufficient given the high emphasis we place on the environment and the future of this country, not only in relation to the quality of life but from a job investment point of view. Will the Minister also comment on the media reports over the weekend in relation to the National Fisheries Board vis-á-vis his answer to the original question? In view of the few protection officers who were patrolling our rivers over the summer, instead of giving them a 2½ per cent pay increase would it not be preferable to put petrol in their cars and pay their expenses to do the work?
The Deputy is stepping outside the scope of this question.
I will stick within it. Could the Minister confirm that the number of official reports and the miles of rivers that were polluted and which were documented in a parliamentary question last week represents but the tip of the iceberg because of our inability to get on top of the situation? What proportion of pollution incidence is reported?
Some of the matters raised by the Deputy do not relate to the question. However, I am satisfied that within the resources available to the fisheries boards and the Department of the Environment and with the help and support of many voluntary organisations and associations interested in this area, it is possible to deal effectively with the situation. To give an indication of our determination to deal with it, I have indicated that we propose to introduce new legislation to strengthen the powers proposed in this regard. It is the intention of the various Ministers who have responsibilities in these areas to introduce new measures and initatives to tighten control in these areas.
Will the Minister put petrol in their cars?
The fish kills in this season did not happen because of a change of Government.
I accept that.
There have been fish kills for quite a number of years and when I worked for a fisheries board 25 years ago we had the very same problems. We propose to deal with it by strengthening the legislation but reorganising the regional boards is a separate issue and should be answered in a separate question. The whole development of inland fisheries must be tackled quickly and we propose to do so.
Will the Minister put petrol in their cars?
I cannot entertain questions from Deputies who remain seated.
If it was merely a matter of putting petrol in their cars, it would be very easy to solve the problem. Unfortunately, it is much more complicated than that.
The Minister has acknowledged the very limited resources available and he is redeploying people and resources to tackle the problem but can anything else be done to alleviate it?
We will pursue every avenue to resolve the problem satisfactorily. Already in the fisheries area people have been redeployed to deal with pollution when it was obvious we were having major problems in that regard.
Does the Minister agree that as a result of the financial constraints now imposed on local authorities it is no longer possible for them to enforce the Water Pollution Act? Will the Minister further agree that enacting legislation is no use if there are not enough officers to enforce it?
I am satisfied that within the resources available and with the help of the associations and organisations this problem will be tackled and dealt with. However, it will take some time and there is no point in trying to pretend that there will be a solution overnight. The position has been allowed to deteriorate over a number of years and some of the Deputies on the other side of the House must take responsibility in this regard.
It is the first time that officers do not have petrol in their cars or vans.
It is obvious that many incidences of pollution are not reported because fishery officers are confined to their offices. Is the Minister aware of a looseness in the Planning Act whereby in the agricultural sector the provision of silage pits without silage slabs does not require planning permission and that they can be placed close to water supply sources, streams and lakes? The perception of pollution arising from such placements has given rise to concern. Could the Minister, the Minister for the Environment and the relevant authorities launch a campaign to encourage farmers who provide such pits, not requiring planning permission, to use their commonsense and not to place them in places which would cause pollution?
That is really a matter for another Minister but, as I said, a ministerial committee met and that is one of the issues which was raised. All the shortcomings affecting various Departments which contribute to pollution will be tackled and dealt with effectively, efficiently and speedily.