asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries what measures are being taken to prevent pollution of fish-bearing rivers by industrial effluent; and if he considers that the powers of local authorities and fishery conservators are adequate to deal with the problem.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Pollution of Rivers.
11.
The discharge of wastes and other pollutants into rivers generally is subject to a number of statutory provisions, the principal of which are the Rivers Pollution Prevention Acts, the Local Government (Sanitary Services) Acts, the Local Government (Planning and Development) Act, 1963, and the Fisheries Acts. Responsibility for the enforcement of these provisions rests mainly with sanitary authorities, planning authorities and boards of fishery conservators.
When polluting effluents are observed, fishery conservators inform those responsible of their obligation to prevent deleterious matter from being discharged into fish-bearing rivers and follow up where necessary with legal action. Also, my Department advises on plans for treatment and disposal of effluents when these are submitted to ensure that the proposted standard of effluent is not deleterious to fisheries.
The over-all responsibility for statutiry powers of control in this matter rests with the Minister for Local Government.