Water Pollution

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 March 2022

Tuesday, 1 March 2022

Questions (341)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

341. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of instances in which Waterways Ireland has alerted the ESB to leaks of mineral oil and-or alkylbenzene from cables into the canal system in Dublin in the past five years to date in 2022; the locations of same on the canal system; the amount recovered from the ESB for the testing and cleaning up of leaks; and if Waterways Ireland has engaged in enforcement action and-or litigation against the ESB as a result of the leaks. [10904/22]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Waterways Ireland has notified the ESB of two oil leaks, the first in January 2017 and the second in January 2022, both on the Grand Canal close to Blackhorse Bridge, Inchicore.

Since 2019, the  ESB has initiated a ‘Cable Incident Response Protocol’ to notify Waterways Ireland regarding leaks from underground cables based on their own system for detecting leaks. The ESB engaged and paid for specialist environmental contractors to put measures in place to deal with incidents. Water quality testing is in-situ. The ESB continues to investigate the causes and keeps Waterways Ireland informed regarding these investigations.

Separately, an ‘Historic Cable Incident Response Protocol’ has also been initiated. This process is undertaking a risk assessment of historic instances of leakages along the Grand Canal. The work is ongoing and the ESB keeps Waterways Ireland informed regarding the progress of these investigations.

Waterways Ireland has not, to date, engaged in enforcement action and or litigation against the ESB as a result of recent or legacy leaks.