Skip to main content
Normal View

Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 8 Mar 1989

Vol. 388 No. 1

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Lough Sheelin, County Cavan, Pollution.

9.

asked the Minister for the Marine if he will outline the action he has taken to date to deal with the continuing problems of pollution in Lough Sheelin, County Cavan; and if he has satisfied himself that the present position is satisfactory.

I attach major importance to the task of fully restoring Lough Sheelin's reputation as one of Europe's premier brown trout fisheries. To that end, my Department continue to remain significantly involved in orchestrating and implementing action programmes designed to progressively improve water quality conditions in the lough. The pollution control management strategy of the Lough Sheelin management committee on which both my Department and the Central Fisheries Board are represented, is supported by the work of a technical subcommittee chaired by my Department. Among the works carried out by this subcommittee, established at my Department's instigation in 1987, have been: (i) the development of a detailed slurry management plan for each large pig producer in the catchment. These are now in place and operational for over 12 months, and (ii) comprehensive surveys of cattle farms in both the Cavan and Meath portions of the Lough Sheelin catchment. The volumes of slurry exported from the catchment in the 12 months period to September 1988 were greater than volumes taken out in any 12 month period in the early eighties under the slurry transport subsidy scheme.

While there are no grounds for complacency, I am nevertheless satisfied that conditions in Lough Sheelin will gradually improve. It is imperative, however, that the goodwill and active co-operation of the agricultural sector within the catchment be maintained and increased if progress is not to falter. For the past few months water quality in the lough has shown positive signs of improvement. If the input of phosphorous from the feeder streams can be maintained at a low level it is likely that a significant improvement will continue to occur. Recent monitoring indicates that there is a range of trout stocks, normal for unpolluted streams in the tributaries to Lough Sheelin. It is hoped, too, that 1989 will witness the beginning of a recovery in the flora and fauna of the lough.

I would also like to mention the proposals for the pilot plant trials to convert pig slurry into organic fertiliser and biogas for on-farm energy use. If successful these trials will, combined with the installation of a suitable treatment plant to remove the phosphorous from the final effluent, lead to the elimination of the current need for landspreading of slurry and greatly assist the rapid rehabilitation of Lough Sheelin.

While I am greatly encouraged by the progress of the measures outlined above, there are circumstances in which there is a need to invoke penalties and sanctions if some polluters are to be deterred. For this reason, and in order to strengthen the hand of fishery boards and local authorities in Sheelin and in other areas proposals for substantially increased penalties form part of the Local Government (Water Pollution) Bill, 1989, which was recently published by the Minister for the Environment.

As part of the ongoing monitoring of the condition of Lough Sheelin's water checks are made at least every month on visibility through the waters. Unless natural light can penetrate the waters of a lake plant life and invertebrates cannot survive or regenerate. It is heartening to note that in December 1988 and January of this year the visibility was three metres or even more. There is of course a seasonal variation in visibility and in February this has shown up a reduction due to wind induced sediment uplift. There can be no slackening of efforts on the part of all State and private interests to reduce the pollution threat to the lough, to reverse the build up of undesirable compounds in the water body and to restore the flora and fauna to its pristine quality or to its former quality.

Finally it would be remiss of me to let this opportunity pass without paying tribute to the sterling work performed to date by the local authorities in tackling and overcoming the major environmental problems which had evolved within the Lough Sheelin catchment. Likewise, the resourcefulness and dynamism which the Cavan County Manager, Mr. Mackey, is bringing to bear on these problems has rightly generated a considerable reservoir of optimism among all parties for the future health and well-being of Lough Sheelin.

Top
Share