Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 July 2023
146. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the actions being taken by Inland Fisheries Ireland and the EPA in relation to an ongoing fuel leak into the Slaney river below the waterworks at Tullow; whether the impact of this oil leak on the SAC, in particular the pearl mussel and salmon populations, has been ascertained; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32037/23]
View answerThe reported fuel leak into the River Slaney is being addressed primarily by Carlow County Council. However, staff from Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) have visited the location on several occasions and noted large numbers of live fish (both trout and salmon) in the section of river downstream of the oil discharge. Extensive checks by IFI staff have also highlighted good populations of fish in the impacted section. IFI visited the location on Friday 23 June 2023 and confirmed that the discharge was significantly reduced compared to previous checks. On 29 June IFI reported that there was no evidence of any oil during a check on a section of Slaney channel less that 1km downstream from the discharge point.
The conservation of freshwater pearl mussel is a matter for the National Parks and Wildlife Service. Neither I, my Department nor IFI have any function in this matter.
The EPA is an independent public body established under the Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1992 and is entirely independent in the exercise of its functions. Accordingly, any queries on specific incidents that fall within the remit of the EPA should be directed to the Agency.
