asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the levels of radiation discovered in sheep in Counties Donegal, Sligo and Mayo; and the measures, if any, he is taking to protect the health of the population in these areas.
31.
Written Answers. - Radiation in Sheep.
26.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if, in view of recent reports concerning the detection of radio-active substances in sheep in the West of Ireland he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 26 and 31 together.
The Nuclear Energy Board have in recent months been conducting a survey of the radioactivity levels in sheep and lambs grazing on heather in upland areas of the country including Counties Donegal, Sligo and Mayo. With a view to getting this survey completed as quickly as possible field staff from my Department were assigned to assist the NEB from an early stage.
The levels discovered in the course of this survey, which is expected to be completed shortly, have in some instances, for example in upland pockets in Counties Donegal and Sligo and in a small area of North Mayo, been higher than the levels discovered in the meat of sheep and lambs which were grazed or finished off on the lowlands, samples of which have been taken and tested regularly on a countrywide basis for well over a year past. I can, however, assure the House and the public at large on the basis of the expert advice available to me that the higher levels of radioactivity found in these upland sheep do not pose a threat to the health of the consumer. These levels drop dramatically when the animals are brought down from the upland to lowland pastures for finishing off before marketing which is the normal procedure adopted by the bulk of upland sheep farmers. When the survey is completed I will be reviewing the position to see what action, if any, is called for to give any further reassurance to all concerned.