asked the Minister for Local Government the precautions taken to prevent and combat the pollution by oil of this country's beaches and harbours; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
87.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Coastal and Inland Water Pollution.
86.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware that there is a widespread slick of a polluting and hazardous nature just off the coast of County Waterford which is threatening the beaches and harbours in the area and interfering with fishing off the coast; and what action it is proposed to take to deal with the matter.
88.
asked the Minister for Local Government what arrangements are made by his Department with local authorities to deal with coastal and inland water pollution; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose, with your permission a Cheann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 86, 87 and 88 together.
I have received no report of a widespread oil slick off the coast of Waterford. With regard to the arrangements for dealing with clearance of oil pollution I would refer the Deputies to my replies to Question No. 72 on 11th February, 1971, and Questions Nos. 65 and 66 on 19th November, 1970.
I would also refer to the provisions of the Oil Pollution of the Sea Acts under which offenders may be prosecuted by the Minister for Transport and Power and, in the case of a harbour, the harbour authority.
I consider that I have covered the question of water pollution fairly fully in my opening statement on my Department's Estimates, columns 451 to 457, volume 254, No. 3, of the Dail Debates for 27th May, 1971.
Are any funds made available directly by the Minister's Department to local authorities to deal with pollution? Of course, this is very often a localised problem but, at the same time, the cost of carrying out the work is considerable. Is there any uniform arrangement for dealing with it?
As I have said, the Deputy can read my statement introducing the Estimate. At the moment there are interim arrangements. The local authorities were asked to establish machinery to deal with such an emergency. No specific assistance is being granted to the local authorities. They are expected to make these arrangements and they are expected to meet the cost out of their own resources. They will also be assisted in grave cases from central funds. The Department would help if a special emergency arose. This is all an interim arrangement. An inter-departmental committee is considering this and the type of legislation which will be necessary to establish, on a firm footing, a proper organisation to deal with it in a comprehensive way. Until we know exactly where we are going in relation to an overall national policy, these arrangements are in operation.
As the Minister is aware, there is a difference between the general question of pollution and the question of the pollution of places resorted to by holiday-makers such as swimming areas, and coastal areas which are used for boating and bathing. Can the Minister say if any special arrangements, other than whatever the local authorities do themselves, are in operation?
The only arrangements which are in operation at present are those drawn up by the local authorities, as requested by me, to deal with this matter as an interim measure. The Deputy can be assured that if we had a very serious case of the pollution of a beach and the local authority said they could not deal with it, I would certainly handle it very sympathetically and make sure that the matter was dealt with immediately. Lack of finance on the part of the local authority would not cause a delay in clearing this up. I would take immediate steps.